protectorates
Shielded colonial regions
Protectorates are territories that maintain some degree of self-governance but whose defense and foreign affairs are controlled by a stronger state.
The arrangement historically allowed major powers to extend influence without full annexation, often imposed on weaker nations through treaties that were colonial in all but name.
The Marshall Islands was a U.S. protectorate until 1986.
The term sometimes appears figuratively to describe any relationship where one party dominates another under the guise of protection.
Areas under jurisdiction
- dependenciesThings required for operation
- mandatesAuthoritative commands or requirements
- coloniesTerritories under foreign control
- trusteeshipFiduciary guardianship position
dominion · administration · sovereignty · imperialism · decolonization · self-governance · indigenous · annexation
Formal agreements between states
- agreementsFormal mutual arrangements
- vassal statesTerritories subordinate to overlords
- client statesDependent countries under patronage
- tributaryStream entering larger river
alliance · sphere of influence · foreign relations · autonomy · subordination · diplomatic status · international law · recognized
Protection against harm
- securityProtection from threat
- garrisonStationed military force
- basesBottom supports or stations
- strategicDeliberately planned for advantage
occupation · armed forces · military alliance · umbrella · intervention · peacekeeping · buffer zone · demilitarized
territories
Areas under jurisdiction
- dependenciesThings required for operation
- mandatesAuthoritative commands or requirements
- coloniesTerritories under foreign control
trusteeship · dominion · administration · sovereignty · imperialism · decolonization · self-governance · indigenous · annexation · League of Nations
treaties
Formal agreements between states
- agreementsFormal mutual arrangements
- vassal statesTerritories subordinate to overlords
- client statesDependent countries under patronage
tributary · alliance · sphere of influence · foreign relations · autonomy · subordination · diplomatic status · international law · recognized · buffer states
defense
Protection against harm
strategic · occupation · armed forces · military alliance · umbrella · intervention · peacekeeping · buffer zone · demilitarized · troops
- territoriesprovince, state, region, country, colony
- African historyNubia, Dahomey, Oyo Empire, Scramble for Africa, scramble for Africa
- British EmpireIndia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong
- imperialismempire building, colonization, imperial expansion, British Empire, colonies
- 19th Century Diplomacyambassador, ambassadors, envoy, envoys, Congress of Vienna
- American Expansionmanifest destiny, territorial expansion, westward expansion, Louisiana Purchase, Alaska
protectoratessovereign states
Autonomous governing territories
sovereign nations · great powers · free states · superpowers · republics