Suzerainty is the relationship in which a suzerain, a dominant state or polity, holds supremacy and dominant influence over the foreign policy and economic relations of a subordinate party or polity while allowing that subordinate internal autonomy. The subordinate party in this relationship is called a vassal, vassal state or tributary state, and its own rights and obligations toward the suzerain are called vassalage. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
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The client state relationship is a documented form of suzerainty, in which a subordinate polity retains internal self-rule while acknowledging the authority of a dominant power in external affairs.
Suzerainty and vassalage describe the same asymmetric political relationship from opposite ends, the suzerain holding overlordship over a subordinate vassal who retains internal autonomy while owing tribute or service.
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Suzerainty (Wikipedia)
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A suzerain is a person, state or polity who has supremacy and dominant influence over the foreign policy and economic relations of another subordinate party or polity, but allows internal autonomy to that subordinate.
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