Client state

State that is subordinate to another A client state, in the context of international relations, is an umbrella term that broadly refers to any state economically, politically, and militarily subordinated to a more powerful controlling state. It typically describes a bilateral relationship that is mutually beneficial, characterized by different but shared obligations. Variants of a client state are associated state, dominion, condominium, self-governing colony, neo-colony, protectorate, protected state, puppet state, satellite state, vassal state and tributary state. Controlling states in history Persia, Greece, Ancient China and Rome Ancient states such as Persia, Parthia, Greek city-states, Ancient China, and Ancient Rome sometimes created client states by making the leaders of that state subservient, having to provide tribute and soldiers. Classical Athens, for example, forced weaker states into the Delian League and in some cases imposed democratic governments on them. Later, Philip II of Macedon similarly imposed the League of Corinth. One of the most prolific users of client states was Republican Rome which, instead of conquering and then absorbing into an empire, chose to mak