In analogy with the recent plaquette formulation of lattice gauge theory, we develop lattice spin systems in terms of links, with all correlations in terms of lattice Bianchi identities. On finite lattices (periodic and twisted), new global (topological) Bianchi identities are found. The dual variables conjugate to these global identities are essentially the spin analog of't Hooft's dual variables.

• Received 6 June 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.30.1775