Protectorate
PROTECTORATE
The term protectorate evolved in the nineteenth century. It refers to a relationship in which a weaker state relinquishes the control of a portion or all of its international relations to a stronger state in return for protection. This relationship is a form of guardianship and the reciprocal rights and duties between the two states generally are delineated by treaty. The protected state is considered the "protectorate." In international law the protectorate still retains recognition as a state by other nations and may retain some of its state rights such as a right to diplomatic representation. The protectorate usually maintains control over its domestic affairs.
In the nineteenth century, protectorate relationships often preceded colonial expansion or, as in the case of the United States and Caribbean, aimed at preventing foreign rivals from gaining a foothold in certain areas and upsetting a delicate balance of power. U.S. foreign policy toward the Caribbean from 1898 to 1933 is known as the protectorate era. The United States feared regional instability would lead to non-U.S. foreign intervention. The United States repeatedly used military force, dollars, and custom's controls to safeguard countries such as Puerto Rico, Haiti, Cuba, and Latin American nations, keeping them solvent and stable.