Puppet state

State controlled by another state

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

Part of the Politics series

Basic forms of government
List of forms of government

Source of power

|  Democracy (rule by many)

* Demarchy
* Direct
* Liberal
* Representative
* Social
* Socialist
* Others

* * *

Oligarchy (rule by few)

* Anocracy
* Aristocracy
* Gerontocracy
* Kleptocracy
* Kritarchy
* Meritocracy
* Noocracy
* Particracy
* Plutocracy
* Stratocracy
* Technocracy
* Theocracy

* * *

Autocracy (rule by one)

* Despotism
* Dictatorship
* Military dictatorship
* Tyranny

* * *

Anarchism (rule by none)

* Anarchy
* Free association
* Stateless

* * *

Power ideology

* Monarchy
* Republic

(socio-political ideologies)

* Absolute
* Constitutional
* Directorial
* Legalist
* Parliamentary
* Presidential
* Semi-presidential
* Socialist

* * *

* Authoritarian
* Libertarian

(socio-economic ideologies)

* Anarchism
* Colonialism
* Communism
* Despotism
* Distributism
* Fascism
* Feudalism
* Socialism
* Totalitarianism
* Tribalism

* * *

* Religious
* Secular

* State religion
* Secular state

* * *

* Global
* Local

(geo-cultural ideologies)

* City-state
* Intergovernmental organisation
* National government
* World government
* Nationalism
* Internationalism
* Globalism

Power structure

|  Unitarism

* Unitary state
* Empire
* Principality

* * *

Client state

* Associated state
* Dependent territory
* Dominion
* Protectorate
* Puppet state
* Puppet monarch
* Satellite state
* Self-governing colony
* Tributary state
* Buffer State
* Vassal state
* Viceroyalty

* * *

Federalism

* Confederation
* Devolution
* Federation
* Superstate
* Supranational union

* * *

International relations

* Small power
* Regional power
* Middle power
* Great power
* Superpower
* Hyperpower

* * *

Administrative division

* v
* t
* e

A puppet state, puppet régime, puppet government or dummy government[1] is a state that is de jure independent but de facto completely dependent upon an outside power and subject to its orders.[2] Puppet states have nominal sovereignty, but a foreign power effectively exercises control through means such as financial interests, economic, or military support.[3] By leaving a local government in existence the outside Powers evade all responsibility, while at the same time successfully paralyzing the Government they tolerate.[1]

Puppet states are distinguished from allies, which choose their actions on their own or in accordance with treaties they voluntarily entered. Puppet states are forced into providing legal endorsement for actions already taken by a foreign power.

## Contents

* 1 Characteristics
* 2 Terminology
* 3 Examples
* 3.1 19th century
* 3.2 World War I
* 3.3 Axis Powers of World War II
* 3.3.1 Imperial Japan
* 3.3.1.1 Nominally sovereign states
* 3.4 Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy
* 3.5 Existing states in alliance with Germany and Italy
* 3.6 Existing states under German or Italian rule
* 3.7 New states formed to reflect national aspirations
* 3.8 States and governments under control of Germany and Italy
* 3.9 Italian Social Republic
* 3.10 United Kingdom during and after World War II
* 3.11 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
* 3.12 Decolonization
* 3.12.1 Dutch East Indies
* 3.12.2 Congo crisis
* 3.12.3 East Timor
* 3.12.4 South Africa's Bantustans
* 3.13 Post-Cold War
* 3.13.1 United States supported governments in Afghanistan and Iraq
* 3.13.2 Republic of Kuwait
* 3.13.3 Republic of Serbian Krajina
* 3.14 Current
* 3.14.1 Armenia
* 3.14.2 China
* 3.14.3 Russia
* 3.15 By limited opinion
* 3.15.1 Iran
* 3.15.2 Saudi Arabia
* 3.15.3 United Arab Emirates
* 3.15.4 Turkey
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 Further reading

## Characteristics[edit | edit source]

A puppet state preserves the external paraphernalia of independence (such as a name, flag, anthem, constitution, law codes, motto and government), but in reality it is an organ of another state which creates,[4] sponsors or otherwise controls the government of the puppet state (the "puppet government"). International law does not recognize occupied puppet states as legitimate.[5]

Puppet states can cease to be puppets through:

* the military defeat of the "master" state (as in Europe and Asia in 1945),
* absorption into the master state (as in the early Soviet Union),
* revolution, notably occurring after withdrawal of foreign occupying forces (like Afghanistan in 1992), or
* achievement of independence through state-building methods (especially through de-colonisation).

## Terminology[edit | edit source]

The term is a metaphor which compares a state or government to a puppet controlled by a puppeteer using strings.[6] The first recorded use of the term "puppet government" is from 1884, in reference to the Khedivate of Egypt.[7]

In the Middle Ages vassal states existed which were based on delegation of rule of a country from a King to noble men of lower rank. Since the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 the concept of a nation came into existence where sovereignty was connected more to the people who inhabited the land than to the nobility who owned the land.

A similar concept mainly associated with pre-19th century political history is suzerainty, the control of the external affairs of one state by another.

## Examples[edit | edit source]

### 19th century[edit | edit source]

File:Europe 1812 map en.png

First French Empire and French satellite states in 1812

File:British Indian Empire 1909 Imperial Gazetteer of India.jpg

Map of the British Indian Empire. The princely states are in yellow.

The Batavian Republic was established in the Netherlands under French revolutionary protection. In Eastern Europe, France established a Polish client state of the Duchy of Warsaw.

In Italy, republics were created in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with the assistance and encouragement of Napoleonic France (see also French client republics).

During 1836 U.S. citizens allowed to live in the Mexican state of Texas revolted against the Mexican government to establish a U.S.-backed Republic of Texas, a country that existed less than 10 years (from 14 May 1836, to 29 December 1845) before it was annexed to the United States of America. However, in August 1837, Memucan Hunt, Jr., the Texan minister to the United States, submitted the first official annexation proposal to the Van Buren administration (the first American-led attempts to take over Mexican Texas by filibustering date back to 1819 and by separatist settlers since 1826).

In 1810 U.S. citizens living in Spanish territory declared the area from the Mississippi River to the present state of Florida to be an independent nation. Known as the Republic of West Florida, it only lasted for 10 weeks. Not desiring to cross American interests, the republic's government encouraged annexation by the U.S., which soon occurred.

In 1896 Britain established a state in Zanzibar.

### World War I[edit | edit source]

Main article: List of World War I puppet states

* File:Flag of Poland (1919–1928).svg Kingdom of Poland (1916–1918) – The Central Powers' forces occupied Russian Congress Poland in 1915 and in 1916 the German Empire and Austria-Hungary created a Polish Monarchy to exploit the occupied territories in an easier way and mobilize the Poles against the Russians (see Polish Legions). In 1918 the state became independent and formed the backbone of the new internationally recognized Second Polish Republic.
* File:Flag of Lithuania (1918–1940).svg Kingdom of Lithuania (1918) – after Russia's defeat and the territorial cessions of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Germans established a Lithuanian kingdom. However it became an independent republic with Germany's defeat.
* File:Flag of Courland (state).svg Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1918) – in 1915 the Imperial German forces occupied the Russian Courland Governorate and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ended the war in the east, so the local ethnic Baltic Germans established a Duchy under the German crown from that part of Ober Ost, with a common return of civil administration in favor of military. This state was very swiftly merged with the Baltic State Duchy, and German-occupied territories of Russian Empire in Livonia and Estonia, into a multi-ethnic United Baltic Duchy.
* File:Flag of the South West Caucasian Republic.svg Provisional National Government of the Southwestern Caucasus and File:Flag of TRWT.svg Provisional Government of Western Thrace were the provisional republics that were established by the Turkish minorities in Thrace and Caucasia, after the Ottoman Empire lost its lands in these regions. Both were the products of the Ottoman Intelligence agency, Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa, in terms of organisational structure and organisers, and they had remarkably common features.[8]
* File:Red flag.svg Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic － The state, remotely controlled by Soviet Russia,[9] was founded by Starin's close friend Artyom.[10] But the DKRR was disliked by Lenin. The capital of the republic was soon overthrown by the Germans again, and after the Soviet Red Army regained control of the territory, the country was dissolved at Lenin's request.

### Axis Powers of World War II[edit | edit source]

#### Imperial Japan[edit | edit source]

Further information: Axis powers of World War II, Collaboration with the Axis Powers during World War II, and List of WWII puppet states

During Japan's imperial period, and particularly during the Pacific War (parts of which are considered the Pacific theatre of World War II), the Imperial Japanese regime established a number of dependent states.

##### Nominally sovereign states[edit | edit source]

File:Manchukuo map 1939.svg

Location of Manchukuo (red) within Imperial Japan's sphere of influence

File:Wang and Nazis.jpg

Wang Jingwei receiving German diplomats while head of state in 1941

* File:Flag of Manchukuo.svg Manchukuo (1932–1945), set up in Manchuria under the leadership of the last Chinese Emperor, Puyi.[11]
* File:Flag of Jinbei.svg North Shanxi Autonomous Government (1937-1939), was formed in northern Shanxi with its capital at Datong on October 15, 1937. The state was then merged with South Chahar Autonomous Government as well as the Mongol United Autonomous Government into Menjiang.
* File:Flag of Chanan.svg South Chahar Autonomous Government (1937-1939), was formed in South Chahar with its capital at Kalgan (modern day Zhangjiakou) on September 4, 1937. The state was merged with the North Shanxi Autonomous Government as well as the Mongol United Autonomous Government to create Mengjiang.
* File:Flag of Mongol Military Government (1936-1937).svg Mongol Military Government (1936-1937) as well as Mongol United Autonomous Government (1937-1939) were established in Inner Mongolia as puppet states with local collaborators. This state formed the large basis of what was to become Mengjiang.
* File:Flag of the Mengjiang.svg Mengjiang, set up in Inner Mongolia on May 12, 1936, as the Mongol Military Government (蒙古軍政府) was renamed in October 1937 as the Mongol United Autonomous Government (蒙古聯盟自治政府). On September 1, 1939, the predominantly Han Chinese governments of South Chahar Autonomous Government and North Shanxi Autonomous Government were merged with the Mongol Autonomous Government, creating the new Mengjiang United Autonomous Government (蒙疆聯合自治政府). All of these were headed by De Wang.[12]
* File:Flag of China (1912–1928).svg East Hebei Autonomous Council – a state in northeast China between 1935 and 1938.
* File:Flag of the Dadao Municipal Government of Shanghai.svg Great Way (Dadao) government (Shanghai 1937–1940) – A short-lived regime based in Shanghai. This provinsional government was established as a preliminary collaboration state as the Japanese took control of all of Shanghai and advanced towards Nanking. This was then merged with the Reformed Government of China as well as the Provisional Government of China into the Reorganised Nationalist Government of the Republic of China under the leadership of Chairmen Wang Jingwei.
* File:Flag of China (1912–1928).svg Reformed Government of the Republic of China – First regime established in Nanjing after the Battle of Nanjing. Later fused into the Provisional Government of China.
* File:Flag of China (1912–1928).svg Provisional Government of China (December 14, 1937 – March 30, 1940) – Incorporated into the Nanjing Nationalist Government on March 30, 1940.[13]
* File:Flag of the Republic of China-Nanjing (Peace, Anti-Communism, National Construction).svg Reorganised Nationalist Government of the Republic of China (March 30, 1940 – 1945) – Established in Nanjing under the leadership of Wang Jingwei.[14]
* File:Flag of Burma 1943.svg State of Burma (Burma, 1942–1945) – Head of State: Ba Maw.
* File:Flag of the Philippines (1943–1945).svg Second Philippine Republic (1943–1945) – government headed by José P. Laurel as President.
* File:1931 Flag of India.svg Provisional Government of Free India (1943–1945) - set up in Singapore in October 1943 by Subhas Chandra Bose and was in charge of Indian expatriates and military personnel in Japanese Southeast Asia. The government was established with prospective control of Indian territory to fall to the offensive to India. Of the territory of post-independence India, the government took charge of Kohima (after it fell to Japanese-INA offensive), parts of Manipur that fell to both the Japanese 15th Army as well as to the INA, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
* File:Flag of the Empire of Vietnam (1945).svg Empire of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Đế quốc Việt Nam, Hán tự: 帝國越南) (March–August 1945) – Emperor Bảo Đại's regime with Trần Trọng Kim as prime minister after proclaiming independence from France.
* File:Flag of Cambodia under French protection.svg Kingdom of Cambodia (Cambodia, March–August 1945) – King Norodom Sihanouk's regime with Son Ngoc Thanh as Prime Minister after proclaiming independence from France.
* File:Flag of Laos (1952-1975).svg Kingdom of Laos – King Sisavang Vong's régime after proclaiming independence from France.

### Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy[edit | edit source]

Further information: Axis powers of World War II and Collaboration with the Axis Powers during World War II

File:World War II in Europe, 1942.svg

German-occupied Europe at the height of the Axis conquests in 1942

Several European governments under the domination of Germany and Italy during World War II have been described as "puppet régimes". The formal means of control in occupied Europe varied greatly. These states fall into several categories.

### Existing states in alliance with Germany and Italy[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg Government of National Unity (1944–1945) – The pro-Nazi régime of Prime Minister Ferenc Szálasi supported by the Arrow Cross Party was a German puppet régime. Arrow Cross was a pro-German, anti-Semitic Fascist party. Szálasi was installed by the Germans after Hitler launched Operation Panzerfaust and had the Hungarian Regent, Admiral Miklós Horthy, removed and placed under house arrest. Horthy was forced to abdicate in favor of Szálasi. Szálasi fought on even after Budapest fell and Hungary was completely overrun.

### Existing states under German or Italian rule[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Albania (1943–1944).svg Albania under Nazi Germany (1943–1944) – The Kingdom of Albania was an Italian protectorate and puppet régime. Italy invaded Albania in 1939 and ended the rule of King Zog I. Zog was exiled and King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy added King of Albania to his titles. King Victor Emmanuel and Shefqet Bej Verlaci, Albanian Prime Minister and Head of State, controlled the Italian protectorate. Shefqet Bej Verlaci was replaced as Prime Minister and Head of State by Mustafa Merlika Kruja on 3 December 1941. The Germans occupied Albania when Italy quit the war in 1943 and Ibrahim Bej Biçaku, Mehdi Bej Frashëri, and Rexhep Bej Mitrovica became successive Prime Minister under the Nazis.
* File:Flag of Philippe Pétain, Chief of State of Vichy France.svg Vichy France (1940–1942/4) – The Vichy French régime of Philippe Pétain had limited autonomy from 1940 to 1942, being heavily dependent on Germany. The Vichy government controlled many of France's colonies and the unoccupied part of France and enjoyed international recognition. In 1942, the Germans occupied the portion of France administered by the Vichy government in Case Anton and installed a new leadership under Pierre Laval, which ended much of the international legitimacy the government had.
* File:Flag of Monaco.svg Monaco (1942–1944) – In 1943, the Italian army invaded and occupied Monaco, setting up a fascist administration. Shortly thereafter, following Mussolini's collapse in Italy, the German army occupied Monaco and began the deportation of the Jewish population. Among them was René Blum, founder of the Ballet de l'Opera, who died in a Nazi extermination camp.

### New states formed to reflect national aspirations[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of First Slovak Republic 1939-1945.svg Slovak Republic under the Slovak People's Party (1939–1945) – The Slovak Republic was a German client state.[citation needed] The Slovak People's Party was a clerofascist nationalist movement associated with the Roman Catholic Church. Monsignor Jozef Tiso became the president in a nominally independent Slovakia.
* File:Flag of Independent State of Croatia.svg Independent State of Croatia (1941–1945) – The Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska or NDH) was a German and Italian puppet régime. On paper, the NDH was a kingdom under King Tomislav II (Aimone, Duke of Spoleto) of the House of Savoy, but Tomislav II was only a figurehead in Croatia who never exercised any real power, with Ante Pavelić being a somewhat independent leader ("poglavnik"), though staying obedient to Rome and Berlin.

### States and governments under control of Germany and Italy[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg Hellenic State (1941–1944) – The Hellenic State administration of Georgios Tsolakoglou, Konstantinos Logothetopoulos and Ioannis Rallis was a "collaborationist" puppet government[15] during the Axis occupation of Greece. Germany, Italy and Bulgaria occupied different portions of Greece at different times during these régimes.
* File:Flag of the Government of National Salvation (occupied Yugoslavia).svg Government of National Salvation (1941–1944) – The government of General Milan Nedić and sometimes known as Nedić's Serbia was a German puppet régime operating in the Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia[16] during the Axis occupation of Serbia.
* File:Flag of Russian Liberation People's Army.svg Lokot Republic, Russia (1941–1943) – The Lokot Republic under Konstantin Voskoboinik and Bronislaw Kaminski was a semi-autonomous region in Nazi-occupied Russia under a collaborationist administration. The republic covered the area of several raions of Oryol and Kursk Oblasts. It was directly associated with the "Russian Liberation People's Army" (Russkaya Osvoboditelnaya Narodnaya Armiya or RONA), known as the Kaminski Brigade.
* File:Flag of Belarus (1918, 1991–1995).svg Belarusian Central Rada (1943–1944) – The Belarusian Central Council (Biełaruskaja Centralnaja Rada) was nominally the government of Belarus from 1943 to 1944. It was a collaborationist government established by Nazi Germany (see Reichskommissariat Ostland).
* File:Flag of Nasjonal Samling.svg Quisling's Norwegian National government (1942–1945) – The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with all authority held by German Reich Commissioner (Reichskommissar) Josef Terboven, who exercised this through the Reichskommissariat Norwegen. The Norwegian pro-German fascist Vidkun Quisling had attempted a coup d'état against the Norwegian government during the German invasion on 9 April 1940, but he was not appointed by the Germans to head another native government until 1 February 1942.
* File:Flag of Independent State of Croatia.svg Independent State of Croatia (1941–1945) – Formed after the invasion of Yugoslavia, the Independent State of Croatia was led by the Croatian fascist leader Ante Pavelić. It controlled all or most of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, parts of Serbia, and parts of Slovenia. The government relied on German support for much of its existence.
* Zuyev Republic (1941–1944) was an autonomous region in Nazi-occupied Belarus.

### Italian Social Republic[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Italy.svg Italian Social Republic (1943–1945, known also as the Republic of Salò) – General Pietro Badoglio and King Victor Emmanuel III withdrew Italy from the Axis Powers and moved the government to Southern Italy, already conquered by the Allies. In response, the Germans occupied Northern Italy and founded the Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana or RSI) with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as its "Head of State" and "Minister of Foreign Affairs". While the RSI government had some trappings of an independent state, it was completely dependent both economically and politically on Germany.

### United Kingdom during and after World War II[edit | edit source]

Further information: Allies of World War II and List of World War II puppet states

The Axis demand for oil and the concern of the Allies that Germany would look to the oil-rich Middle East for a solution, caused the invasion of Iraq by the United Kingdom and the invasion of Iran by the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. Pro-Axis governments in both Iraq and Iran were removed and replaced with Allied-dominated governments.

* File:Flag of Iraq (1924–1959).svg Kingdom of Iraq (1941–1947) – Iraq was important to the United Kingdom because of its position on the route to India. Iraq also could provide strategic oil reserves. But, due to the UK's weakness early in the war, Iraq backed away from the pre-war Anglo-Iraqi Alliance. On 1 April 1941, the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq was overthrown and there was a pro-German coup d'état under Rashid Ali. The Rashid Ali regime began negotiations with the Axis powers and military aid was quickly sent to Mosul via Vichy French-controlled Syria. The Germans provided a squadron of twin engine fighters and a squadron of medium bombers. The Italians provided a squadron of biplane fighters. In mid-April 1941, a brigade of the 10th Indian Infantry Division landed at Basra (Operation Sabine). On 30 April, British forces at RAF Habbaniya were besieged by a numerically inferior Iraqi force. On 2 May, the British launched pre-emptive airstrikes against the Iraqis and the Anglo-Iraqi War began. By the end of May, the siege of RAF Habbaniya was lifted, Falluja was taken, Baghdad was surrounded by British forces, and the pro-German government of Rashid Ali collapsed. Rashid Ali and his supporters fled the country. The Hashemite monarchy (King Faisal II and Prime Minister Nuri al-Said) was restored, and declared war on the Axis powers in January 1942. British and Commonwealth forces remained in Iraq until 26 October 1947.[17]
* File:State flag of Iran (1933–1964).svg Imperial State of Iran (1941–1943) – German workers in Iran caused the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union to question Iran's neutrality. In addition, Iran's geographical position was important to the Allies. So, in August 1941, the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran (Operation Countenance) was launched. In September 1941, Reza Shah Pahlavi was forced to abdicate his throne and went into exile. He was replaced by his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was willing to declare war on the Axis powers. By January 1942, the UK and the Soviet Union agreed to end their occupation of Iran six months after the end of the war.

### Union of Soviet Socialist Republics[edit | edit source]

Main article: Soviet satellite states

File:Suomen-kansantasavalta.png

Map of the Finnish Democratic Republic (1939–40), a short-lived puppet state of the Soviet Union. Green indicates the area that the Soviet Union planned to cede to the Finnish Democratic Republic, and red the areas ceded by Democratic Finland to the Soviet Union.

* File:Flag of the Tuvan People's Republic (1943-1944).svg Tuvan People's Republic,[disputed - discuss] also Tannu Tuva (1921–1944) achieved independence from China by means of local nationalist revolutions only to come under the domination of the Soviet Union in the 1920s. In 1944, Tannu Tuva was absorbed into the Soviet Union.
* File:Red flag.svg Finnish Democratic Republic (1939–1940) – The Finnish Democratic Republic (Suomen Kansanvaltainen Tasavalta) was a short-lived republic in the parts of Finland that were occupied by the Soviet Union during the Winter War. The Finnish Democratic Republic was also known as the "Terijoki Government" (Terijoen hallitus) because Terijoki was the first town captured by the Soviets.
* File:Azerbaijan people's government flag.svg Azerbaijan People's Government (1940–1946) – A short-lived state in Iranian Azerbaijan after WWII.[18]
* File:Flag of Latvian SSR (1940).svg Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940) – In June 1940 the Republic of Latvia was occupied by the USSR and in July a government proclaimed Soviet power,[19] In August 1940, Latvia was illegally annexed by the USSR.[20]
* File:Flag of Lithuanian SSR (1940-1953).svg Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940) – In June 1940 the Republic of Lithuania was occupied by the USSR and in July a government proclaimed Soviet power,[19] In August 1940, Lithuania was illegally annexed by the USSR.[20]
* File:Flag of Estonian SSR 1940 1953.svg Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940) – In June 1940 the Republic of Estonia was occupied by the USSR and in July a government proclaimed Soviet power.[19][21] In August 1940, Estonia was illegally annexed by the USSR.[20]
* File:Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg Polish People's Republic (1947–1989) – The war-time governments under the Polish Committee of National Liberation, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland, and the Provisional Government of National Unity.
* File:Flag of Romania (1952-1965).svg National-communist state of Romania (1947–1968) – The war-time National Front (FND) government under Prime Minister of Romania Petru Groza. The FND was led by the Romanian Communist Party (PCR). Romania refused to participate at the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia and, since that year, it started trading and having a warmer relationship with the Western World, resulting in the Soviet Union to lose control of Romania as a puppet state. This is known as the de-satellization of Communist Romania.
* File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1948–1990) – The war-time pro-Communist government National Front.
* File:Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg People's Republic of Bulgaria (1946–1990) – The war-time pro-Communist Fatherland Front government headed by Kimon Georgiev (Zveno).
* Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1989) – The war-time government of Prime Minister Béla Miklós.
* File:Flag of the Republic of Mahabad.svg Republic of Mahabad (22 January 1946 – 15 January 1947), officially known as the Republic of Kurdistan and established in several provinces of northwestern Iran, or what is known as Iranian Kurdistan, was a short-lived republic that sought Kurdish autonomy within the limits of the Iranian state. Iran re-took control in December and the leaders of the state were executed in March 1947 in Mahabad.
* File:Flag of Afghanistan (1980-1987).svg Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1991)

File:Soviet empire 1960.png

The greatest extent of the territory which the Soviet Union politically, economically and militarily dominated as of 1959–1960, after the Cuban Revolution but before the official 1961 Sino-Soviet split (total area: c. 34,374,483 km2)

As Soviet forces prevailed over the German Army on the Eastern Front during the Second World War, the Soviet Union supported the creation of communist governments throughout Eastern Europe. Specifically, the People's Republics in Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Albania were dominated by the Soviet Union. While all of these People's Republics did not "officially" take power until after World War II ended, they all have roots in pro-Communist war-time governments.

The Soviet Union established puppet communist governments in East Germany, Albania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Yugoslavia was also a communist state closely linked to the Soviet Union, but Yugoslavia retained autonomy in its own lines. After the Tito–Stalin split in 1948, the relationship between the two countries deteriorated significantly. Yugoslavia was expelled from the international organizations of the Eastern Bloc. After Stalin's death and a period of de-Stalinization by Khrushchev, peace was restored, but the relationship between the two countries was never completely mended. Yugoslavia continued to pursue independent policies and became the founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Soviet Union continued to espouse its influence over China before the Sino-Soviet split in 1961. Some other countries which once were Soviet puppet governments include Mongolia, North Korea, DRV (SRV), Cuba, all of which had substantial dependence on Soviet economy, military, science and technology. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, most of its former satellites were reformed towards democratization. Only China, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam remain one-party communist states. In 1992, all references to Marxism–Leninism in the constitution of North Korea were dropped by the Supreme People's Assembly and replaced with Juche.[22] In 2009, the constitution was quietly amended so that not only did it remove all Marxist–Leninist references present in the first draft, but it also dropped all references to communism.[23]

### Decolonization[edit | edit source]

In some cases, the process of decolonization has been managed by the decolonizing power to create a neo-colony, that is a nominally independent state whose economy and politics permits continued foreign domination. Neo-colonies are not normally considered puppet states.

#### Dutch East Indies[edit | edit source]

The Netherlands formed several puppet states in the former Dutch East Indies as part of the effort to quell the Indonesian National Revolutionː

* File:Flag of the State of East Indonesia.svg East Indonesia
* File:Flag of Various Autonomous Indonesian States.svg East Java
* File:Flag of East Sumatra.svg East Sumatra
* File:Flag of Various Autonomous Indonesian States.svg Madura
* File:Flag of Pasundan.svg Pasundan
* File:Flag of South Sumatra.svg South Sumatra
* File:Banjar Sultanate Flag.svg Bandjar
* Bangka Island
* Biliton
* Central Java
* East Kalimantan
* File:Flag of Dayak Besar.svg Great Dayak
* Southeast Borneo Federation
* File:Flag of Pontianak Sultanate.svg West Kalimantan

#### Congo crisis[edit | edit source]

Following Belgian Congo's independence as the Congo-Leopoldville in 1960, Belgian interests supported the short-lived breakaway state of Katanga (1960–1963).

#### East Timor[edit | edit source]

Indonesia established a Provisional Government of East Timor following its invasion of East Timor in December 1975.

#### South Africa's Bantustans[edit | edit source]

File:Namibia homelands 78.jpeg

Map of bantustans in South West Africa (present-day Namibia) as of 1978

During the 1970s and 1980s, four ethnic bantustans, called "homelands" by the government of the time (some of which were extremely fragmented), were carved out of South Africa and given nominal sovereignty. Mostly Xhosa people resided in the Ciskei and Transkei, Tswana people in Bophuthatswana and Venda people in the Venda Republic.[24]

The principal purpose of these states was to remove the Xhosa, Tswana and Venda peoples from South African citizenship (and so to provide grounds for denying them democratic rights). All four bantustans were reincorporated into a democratic South Africa on 27 April 1994.[citation needed]

The South African authorities established 10 bantustans in South West Africa (present-day Namibia), then illegally occupied by South Africa, in the late 1960s and early 1970s in accordance with the Odendaal Commission, three of which were granted self-rule. These bantustans were replaced with separate ethnicity based governments in 1980.

### Post-Cold War[edit | edit source]

#### United States supported governments in Afghanistan and Iraq[edit | edit source]

The United States had many puppet states including the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as well as the Iraqi Interim Government which both were military occupied by the United States.[25][26] The US also military occupied parts of Latin America during the Banana Wars and installed puppet regimes in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Mexico.[27]

#### Republic of Kuwait[edit | edit source]

The Republic of Kuwait was a short-lived pro-Iraqi state in the Persian Gulf that only existed three weeks before it was annexed by Iraq in 1990.

#### Republic of Serbian Krajina[edit | edit source]

The Republic of Serbian Krajina was a self proclaimed and by Serbian forces ethnic cleansed territory during the Croatian War (1991–95). It was not recognized internationally. That regime was completely dependent to the Serbian regime of Slobodan Milošević.[28]

### Current[edit | edit source]

#### Armenia[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Artsakh.svg Artsakh \- A self-declared independent state heavily populated by Armenians, it is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. Russian peacekeepers control the Lachin corridor that allows traffic to reach Armenia, on which it is heavily dependent.[29][30]

#### China[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Wa State.svg Wa State – The de facto independent Wa State in Myanmar is considered a puppet state that is linked with China.[31][32]

#### Russia[edit | edit source]

File:Евгений Шевчук и Александр Анкваб.jpg

Abkhazian President Alexander Ankvab with Transnistrian President Yevgeny Shevchuk in 2013. Both Abkhazia and Transnistria have been described as puppet states of Russia.

* File:Flag of the Republic of Abkhazia.svg Abkhazia is considered a puppet state that depends on Russia.[33][34] The economy of Abkhazia is heavily integrated with Russia and uses the Russian ruble as its currency. About half of Abkhazia's state budget is financed with aid money from Russia.[35] Most Abkhazians have Russian passports.[36] Russia maintains a 3,500-strong force in Abkhazia with its headquarters in Gudauta, a former Soviet military base on the Black Sea coast.[37] The borders of the Republic of Abkhazia are being protected by the Russian border guards.[38]
* File:Flag of Donetsk People's Republic.svg Donetsk People's Republic and File:Flag of Lugansk People's Republic.svg Luhansk People's Republic are considered to be puppet states which are supported by Russia.[39][40]
* Russia annexed the DPR and the LPR on 30 September 2022. (See: Annexation of southeastern Ukraine by the Russian Federation.)
* File:Flag of South Ossetia.svg South Ossetia has declared independence but its ability to maintain independence is solely based on Russian troops deployed on its territory. As South Ossetia is landlocked between Russia and Georgia, from which it seceded, it has to rely on Russia for economic and logistical support, as its entire exports and imports and air and road traffic is only between Russia. Former President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity claimed he would like South Ossetia eventually to become a part of the Russian Federation through reunification with North Ossetia.[41]
* File:Flag of Transnistria (state).svg Transnistria is sometimes considered a puppet state supported by Russia.[42][43][44][45]

### By limited opinion[edit | edit source]

#### Iran[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Yemen.svg Yemen – The Houthi government are considered by some to be a puppet state which is supported by Iran.[46] This classification is disputed, however.[47]

#### Saudi Arabia[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Yemen.svg Yemen – The Alimi government is sometimes considered a puppet state which is supported by Saudi Arabia.[48]

#### United Arab Emirates[edit | edit source]

* File:Flag of Yemen.svg Yemen – Southern Transitional Council is sometimes considered a puppet state which is supported by the United Arab Emirates.[49][50]

#### Turkey[edit | edit source]

File:Grenspost.jpg

Northern Cyprus in 2009

* File:Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – According to the European Court of Human Rights, the Republic of Cyprus remains the sole legitimate government in Cyprus, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should be considered as a puppet state under Turkish effective control.[51][52] Its isolation, the Turkish military presence and the heavy dependence on Turkish support mean that Turkey has a high level of control over the country's decision-making processes. That has led to some experts stating that it runs as an effective puppet state of Turkey.[53][54][55] Other experts, however, have pointed out to the independent nature of elections and appointments in Northern Cyprus and disputes between the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish governments and conclude that "puppet state" is not an accurate description for Northern Cyprus.[56][57]

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Banana republic
* Buffer state
* Failed state
* Client state
* Co-belligerence
* Protectorate
* Satellite state
* Satrapy
* Sphere of influence
* Suzerainty
* Tributary state
* Vassal state

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b Morgan Shuster. "The Strangling of Persia: A Story of European Diplomacy and Oriental Intrigue". p. 221 - via No Ruz in: Near East Journal, 21 March 1912.
2. ^ Compare: Marek, Krystyna (1954). Identity and Continuity of States in Public International Law. Library Droz. p. 178\. ISBN 9782600040440. "[...] an allegedly independent, but 'actually' dependent, i.e. puppet State [...]."
3. ^ McNeely, Connie L. (1995). Constructing the Nation-state: International Organization and Prescriptive Action. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-313-29398-6. Retrieved 13 September 2017. "The term 'puppet state' is used to describe nominal sovereigns under effective foreign control..."
4. ^ Raič, David (2002). Statehood and the Law of Self-Determination. Kluwer Law International. p. 81\. ISBN 90-411-1890-X. Retrieved 13 September 2017. "In most cases, puppet States are created by the occupant during occupation of a State, for the purpose of circumventing the former's international responsibility regarding the violation of the rights of the occupied State."
5. ^ Lemkin, Raphaël (2008) [1944]. Axis Rule in Occupied Europe: Laws of Occupation, Analysis of Government, Proposals for Redress. The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. p. 11\. ISBN 978-1-58477-901-8. Retrieved 30 June 2019. "The creation of puppet states or of puppet governments does not give them any special status under international law in the occupied territory. Therefore the puppet governments and puppet states have no greater rights in the occupied territory than the occupant himself. Their actions should be considered as actions of the occupant and hence subject to the limitations of the Hague Regulations."
6. ^ Shapiro, Stephen (2003). Ultra Hush-hush. Annick Press. p. 38. ISBN 1-55037-778-7. "Puppet state: a country whose government is being controlled by the government of another country, much as a puppeteer controls the strings on a marionette"
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. "puppet (n.)". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
8. ^ Şirin, İbrahim (February 2014). "İki Hükümet Bir Teşkilat: Garbî Trakya Hükümet-i Muvakkatesi'nden Cenub-î Garbî Kafkas Hükümeti Muvakkate- î Milliyesi'ne" [Two Governments One Organisation: From the Provisional Government of Western Thrace to the Provisional Government of South-Western Caucasia] (PDF). History Studies (in Turkish). historystudies.net. 6 (2): 125–142. doi:10.9737/historys1130. ISSN 1309-4688: See translated abstract on page 125`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
9. ^ Serhii Plokhii (27 February 2022). "Casus Belli: Did Lenin Create Modern Ukraine?". Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
10. ^ Yekaterina Sinelschikova (3 August 2021). "USSR's first AEROWAGON - and the dark story behind it (PHOTOS + VIDEO)". RBTH. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
11. ^ Jowett, Phillip S., Rays of The Rising Sun, Armed Forces of Japan’s Asian Allies 1931–45, Volume I: China & Manchuria, 2004\. Helion & Co. Ltd., 26 Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, England, pg.7–36.
12. ^ Jowett, Phillip S., Rays of The Rising Sun, Armed Forces of Japan’s Asian Allies 1931–45, Volume I: China & Manchuria, 2004\. Helion & Co. Ltd., 26 Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, England, pg.49–57,88–89.
13. ^ Jowett, Phillip S., Rays of The Rising Sun, Armed Forces of Japan’s Asian Allies 1931–45, Volume I: China & Manchuria, 2004\. Helion & Co. Ltd., 26 Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, England, pg.44–47,85–87.
14. ^ Jowett, Phillip S., Rays of The Rising Sun, Armed Forces of Japan’s Asian Allies 1931–45, Volume I: China & Manchuria, 2004\. Helion & Co. Ltd., 26 Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, England, pg.63–89.
15. ^ ...managed to see the puppet Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Rallis through @ Sephardi Jewry: A History of the Judeo-Spanish Community, 14th–20th Centuries – Page 168
16. ^ Serbia also had a Nazi puppet regime headed by Milan Nedic @ The Balkanization of the West: The Confluence of Postmodernism and Postcommunism – Page 198
17. ^ Taqoosh, Muhammad Sahil (2015). تاريخ العراق (الحديث والمعاصر) [Modern and contemporary history of Iraq] (in Arabic). Dar Al-Nafaes. pp. 190–191.
18. ^ Arfa, Hassan. "Reza Shah Pahlavi: Shah of Iran: Policies as Shah". Encyclopædia Britannica online. Britannica.com. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
19. ^ a b c The Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (Postcommunist States and Nations) David J. Smith from Front Matter ISBN 0-415-28580-1
20. ^ a b c Mälksoo, Lauri (2003). Illegal Annexation and State Continuity: The Case of the Incorporation of the Baltic States by the USSR. Leiden – Boston: Brill. ISBN 90-411-2177-3.
21. ^ Estonia: Identity and Independence: Translated into English (On the Boundary of Two Worlds: Identity, Freedom, and Moral Imagination in the Baltics) Jean-Jacques Subrenat, David Cousins, Alexander Harding, Richard C. Waterhouse on Page 246. ISBN 90-420-0890-3
22. ^ Dae-Kyu, Yoon (2003). "The Constitution of North Korea: Its Changes and Implications". Fordham International Law Journal. 27 (4): 1289–1305. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
23. ^ Park, Seong-Woo (23 September 2009). "북 개정 헌법 '선군사상' 첫 명기" Bug gaejeong heonbeob 'seongunsasang' cheos myeong-gi [First stipulation of the 'Seongun Thought' of the North Korean Constitution] (in Korean). Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
24. ^ "Trump's Plan for Palestine Looks a Lot Like Apartheid". Foreign Policy. 27 February 2020.
25. ^ "Iraqis rise up against 16 years of 'made in the USA' corruption".
26. ^ F. Haider Alvi (9 January 2022). "The U.S. failed in Afghanistan by trying to moralize with bullets and bombs". Theconversation.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
27. ^ http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB222/family_jewels_full_ocr.pdf[bare URL PDF]
28. ^ Shattuck, John (30 June 2009). Freedom on Fire. ISBN 9780674043480. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
29. ^ "The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and the Exercise of "Self-Defense" to Recover Occupied Land". Just Security. 10 November 2020.
30. ^ Sassounian, Harut (2 November 2020). "Putin Finally Reveals His Solution to the Artsakh Conflict". The Armenian Weekly.
31. ^ Slodkowski, Antoni; Lee, Yimou (28 December 2016). "Through reclusive Wa, China's reach extends into Suu Kyi's Myanmar". Reuters. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
32. ^ Linter, Bertil (18 September 2019). "Why Myanmar's Wa always get what they want". Retrieved 20 February 2021.
33. ^ Coffey, Luke (1 June 2012). "Georgia and Russia: The occupation too many have forgotten". thecommentator.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
34. ^ Francis, Céline (2011). Conflict Resolution and Status: The Case of Georgia and Abkhazia (1989–2008). VUBPRESS Brussels University Press. pp. 92–97. ISBN 978-90-5487-899-5. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
35. ^ Nikolaus von Twickel (26 August 2011). "No Clear Frontrunner as Abkhazia Goes to Poll". The Moscow Times.
36. ^ "BBC News – Regions and territories: Abkhazia". BBC News. London: BBC. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
37. ^ "Russian Troops in Abkhazia to Get Air-Conditioned APCs". RIA Novosti. 19 April 2013.
38. ^ "Abkhazian border to be guarded by Russian troops". The Voice of Russia. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
39. ^ Nikolaus von Twickel, Gwendolyn Sasse, Mario Baumann. "Russian Analytical Digest No 214: The Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine". ETH Zurich.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
40. ^ Tymur Korotkyi, Nataliia Hendel (2018). The Legal Status of the Donetsk and Luhansk "Peoples' Republics". pp. 145–170. doi:10.1007/978-94-6265-222-4_7. ISBN 978-94-6265-221-7.
41. ^ McLaughlin, Daniel (12 September 2008). "Russia insists it has no imperial ambitions for ex-Soviet neighbours". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
42. ^ Robertson, Dylan C. (5 March 2014). "Is Transnistria the ghost of Crimea's future?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
43. ^ Ivanel, Bogdan (2016). "Puppet States: A Growing Trend of Covert Occupation". Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law Volume 18, 2015. Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law. Vol. 18\. pp. 43–65. doi:10.1007/978-94-6265-141-8_2. ISBN 978-94-6265-140-1.
44. ^ "Neopatrimonialism and Regime Endurance in Transnistria" (PDF).
45. ^ Beaucillon, Charlotte (17 August 2021). "The European Unions position and practice with regard to unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions". Research Handbook on Unilateral and Extraterritorial Sanctions: 110–129. doi:10.4337/9781839107856.00014. ISBN 9781839107856. S2CID 238717787 - via www.elgaronline.com.
46. ^ Reuters Staff (28 March 2015). "Yemen president calls Houthis 'Iran's puppet'". Reuters. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
47. ^ Juneau, Thomas (16 May 2016). "No, Yemen's Houthis actually aren't Iranian puppets". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
48. ^ "ANALYSIS: Saudi Arabia plays puppet master as Yemen slowly breaks apart". Middle East Eye. 2 February 2018.
49. ^ Browning, Noah (11 May 2018). "UAE extends military reach in Yemen and Somalia". reuters.com.
50. ^ "Yemen on the brink: how the UAE is profiting from the chaos of civil war". The Guardian. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
51. ^ Milano, Enrico (2006). Unlawful Territorial Situations in International Law: Reconciling Effectiveness, Legality And Legitimacy. p. 146\. ISBN 9004149392.
52. ^ Terry.D., Gill (2016). Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law 2015. p. 58\. ISBN 9789462651418.
53. ^ James, A. Sovereign statehood: The basis of international society. p. 142 [1]. Taylor and Francis, 1986, 288 pages. ISBN 0-04-320191-1.
54. ^ Kurtulus, E. State sovereignty: concept, phenomenon and ramifications. p. 136 [2]. Macmillan, 2005, 232 pages. ISBN 1-4039-6988-4.
55. ^ Kaczorowska, A. Public International Law. p. 190 [3]. Taylor and Francis, 2010, 944 pages. ISBN 0-415-56685-1.
56. ^ Bartmann, Barry (2004). Bahcheli, Tozun; Bartmann, Barry; Srebrnik, Henry (eds.). De Facto States: The Quest for Sovereignty. Routledge. p. 24\. ISBN 9781135771218.
57. ^ Dodd, Clement Henry (1993). The political, social and economic development of Northern Cyprus. Eothen Press. p. 377\. ISBN 9780906719183. "In short, the electorate of Northern Cyprus votes freely for its political leaders and gives them substantial support. Nor is Northern Cyprus a Turkish puppet state. Mr Denktas and the Turkish-Cypriot case have a powerful following in Turkey..."

## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* James Crawford. The creation of states in international law (1979)

* v
* t
* e

Autonomous types of first-tier subdivision administration

Federalism|

* Asymmetric federalism
* Confederation
* Corporative federalism
* Dual federalism
* Ethnic federalism
* Federacy
* Federal monarchy
* Federal republic
* Federated state
* Federation
* Fiscal federalism
* Symmetric federalism
* List of federal countries

Unitary state|

* Devolution
* Regional state

Unions|

* Composite monarchy
* Continental union
* Dual monarchy
* Dynastic union
* Empire
* Colonial empire
* Multinational state
* Personal union
* Political union
* Real union
* Superstate
* Supranational union

Subordinacy|

* Associated state
* Client state
* Colony
* Dependent territory
* Direct rule
* Dominion
* Indirect rule
* Mandate
* Protectorate
* Puppet state
* Satellite state
* Trusteeship
* Tributary state
* Vassal state

Development|

* Annexation
* Cession
* Detachment
* Irredentism
* Military occupation
* Partition
* Secession
* Separatism
* Territorial dispute

See also|

* Autonomy
* Autonomous area
* Decentralization
* Hegemony
* Home rule
* Stateless nation
* Subsidiarity
* Suzerainty
* Tribal sovereignty

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template