Threats

3Repudiation and Proof

• Lando Calrissian: “You said they'd be left in the city under my supervision!”
• Darth Vader: “I am altering the deal. Pray I do not alter it…any further.”

Here we see Darth Vader reneging on a deal he made. He doesn't claim that he didn't make the deal. He just repudiates it, then threatens Lando.

Introduction

Repudiation is the threat that some party will refute or deny some responsibility. The merchandise didn't arrive; the payment didn't go through. The claim that they aren't responsible may or may not be true. The word repudiate can provoke broader thinking about refusal, rejection, and even words that don't start with re.

Repudiation is an unusual word. If I could, I'd repudiate its inclusion in the STRIDE mnemonic, but the replacements are no better, so we'll start with definitions. Repudiation is a specific form of denial or rejection. Here are some examples, inspired by dictionary definitions:

• Refuse to accept or be associated with: She has repudiated policies associated with the Jedi Council.
• Deny the truth or validity of: The Moff repudiated claims that Alderaan was a peaceful planet.
• Decide that an agreement is no longer effective: The Emperor has repudiated the Senate and swept away the last vestiges of the old Republic.
• Refuse to fulfill or discharge an agreement, obligation, or debt: Darth Vader repudiated his agreement to leave Cloud City neutral.

It's helpful to understand that the concept of repudiation overlaps with fraud. Not all ...