Satellite state

From Wikinfo

Just as a satellite remains trapped in orbit around a larger body, a satellite state is a pejorative term used to describe a nation trapped within the sphere of influence of a larger, more powerful country. In extreme cases, satellite countries may be virtual colonies with little political, economic or military independence.

The expression was most commonly used to describe the Central and Eastern European countries of the Warsaw pact during the Cold War. These countries were politically tightly controlled by the Soviet Union (from 1945-1948 until 1989).

Other superpowers, including the United States, Nazi Germany and China, are sometimes also said to have had satellite countries.

See also: Finlandization, 1956 Hungarian Revolution, Prague Spring, Brezhnev Doctrine, Sinatra Doctrine

Related article: Puppet government

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Satellite_state" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_state, used under the GNU Free Documentation License