client states
Subordinate allied countries
A client state is a country that is economically, politically, or militarily dependent on a more powerful nation, effectively subordinating its foreign policy to serve that patron's interests.
The relationship typically involves the stronger power providing protection, aid, or legitimacy in exchange for loyalty and strategic cooperation.
During the Cold War, both superpowers maintained networks of client states throughout the developing world.
Critics accused the regime of being little more than a client state of its northern neighbor.
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
- protectorateGuarded semi-autonomous territory
- tributaryStream entering larger river
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
suzerainty · overlordship · dominion · sphere of influence · hegemon · subordination · allegiance · fealty
Formal union of parties
- blocAllied group sharing interests
- sphere of influenceZone of dominant authority
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
- superpowerDominant nation or magical ability
proxy war · NATO · Warsaw Pact · iron curtain · containment · hegemony · great power · regional power
Governance without outside control
- puppet governmentRegime controlled externally
- trusteeshipFiduciary guardianship position
- annexationAbsorbing territory into jurisdiction
- political controlPower over government affairs
domestic affairs · treaty obligations · capitulation · extraterritoriality · diplomatic recognition · statehood · self-determination · home rule
Land-for-service social structure
- vassalageSubordination to a lord
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- suzerainLord over vassals
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
homage · investiture · Holy Roman Empire · Ottoman Empire · British Empire · colonial administration · decolonization · League of Nations
vassal
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
- protectorateGuarded semi-autonomous territory
- tributaryStream entering larger river
colony · suzerainty · overlordship · dominion · sphere of influence · hegemon · subordination · allegiance · fealty · tribute
alliance
Formal union of parties
- blocAllied group sharing interests
- sphere of influenceZone of dominant authority
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
superpower · proxy war · NATO · Warsaw Pact · iron curtain · containment · hegemony · great power · regional power · balance of power
self-rule
Governance without outside control
- puppet governmentRegime controlled externally
- trusteeshipFiduciary guardianship position
- annexationAbsorbing territory into jurisdiction
political control · domestic affairs · treaty obligations · capitulation · extraterritoriality · diplomatic recognition · statehood · self-determination · home rule · devolution
feudalism
Land-for-service social structure
liege · homage · investiture · Holy Roman Empire · Ottoman Empire · British Empire · colonial administration · decolonization · League of Nations · trusteeship
- geopoliticsbalance of power, bipolarity, bloc, blocs, brinkmanship
- ancient diplomacyenvoys, ambassadors, emissaries, peace treaties, alliances
- neocolonialismneocolonialism, debt trap, resource extraction, economic exploitation, foreign debt
- Roman Alliesauxiliaries, Latins
- tributary relationsvassal, vassal states, suzerainty, protectorate, protectorates
- Ancient RomeRome, Julius Caesar, Caesar, gladiator, gladiators