Informal empire
The term informal empire describes the spheres of influence which a polity may develop that translate into a degree of influence over a region or country, which is not a formal colony, protectorate, tributary or vassal state of empire, as a result of its commercial, strategic or military interests. In a 2010 article, Gregory Barton and Brett Bennett defined informal empire as: A willing and successful attempt by commercial and political elites to control a foreign region, resource, or people.