Spheres of Influence

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

Geographic areas where one state exerts dominant political, economic, or military control over other states or territories, often at the expense of those states' sovereignty

History and origin

19th-century diplomatic term formalised in treaties between European colonial powers to divide regions of control; later applied to Cold War blocs

Examples

• The Monroe Doctrine established the Western Hemisphere as a US sphere of influence.
• Russia regards the former Soviet republics as falling within its sphere of influence.

Synonyms: zone of influence, backyard (informal), near abroad (Russian usage)