Abstract
Abstract This entry deals with nominally independent societies and countries dominated by external interests and states. Informal empire is the term used to describe the economic, political, social, and cultural influence imperial and great powers have over weaker states or societies without the establishment of formal political control or sovereignty. In many ways, it has been a more frequent form of international relations than formal empire, and formal empires themselves often exert powerful influence over nominally independent states and peoples. Prior to the rise of Western imperialism, powerful states like the Ottoman Empire and Imperial China had substantial informal empires. Informal empires have had a profound effect on many “semi‐colonial” societies such as Persia/Iran, Mexico, Argentina, Cuba, Nicaragua, Thailand, China, and the states of the Persian/Arabian Gulf. The end of formal European empires led to the creation of new informal ones during the Cold War and beyond.
Published Version
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