Puppet state

The idea
A puppet state is a metaphor of a state that is supposedly independent but is in fact dependent upon an outside power. It is nominally sovereign but effectively controlled by a foreign or otherwise alien power, for reasons such as financial interests.

A puppet state preserves the external paraphernalia of independence like a name, flag, anthem, constitution, law codes and motto but in reality is an organ of another state which created or sponsored the government. Puppet states are not recognized as legitimate under international law.

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

Algeria

 * Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – The Polisario Front's government-in-exile.

Armenia

 * Nagorno-Karabakh Republic functions as a de facto part of Armenia.

Turkey

 * Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – According to the European Court of Human Rights, 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.

Russia

 * Abkhazia is sometimes considered a puppet state that depends on Russia
 * South Ossetia has declared independence but its ability to maintain independence is solely based on Russian troops deployed on its territory.
 * Transnistria – Created by Igor Smirnov and supported by Vladimir Antyufeyev and Alexander Lebed.
 * Donetsk People's Republic – Created by Alexander Borodai and Igor Girkin.
 * Lugansk People's Republic – Created by Valery Bolotov and Mikhail Kozitsyn.

USA

 * Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, Yemen, Libya (pro-Western factions), Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and U.A.E. according to LewRockwell.com.
 * Puerto Rico according to www.reddit.com.

Russia

 * The CIS member states (especially, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.) and (by force) Ukraine according to www.wupr.org.

China

 * N. Korea according to a 2017 U.S. Congressional Report.

Saudi Arabia

 * Bahrain, UAE and Qatar according to www.reddit.com.

UK and Germany

 * Eritrea.

Also see

 * Elections