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Annexation

Definition

Annexation refers to the act of one country taking control over another territory and incorporating it into its own sovereign boundaries. This is typically done through a formal process or agreement between the two countries involved.

Analogy

Imagine you have a small bedroom, and your neighbor has a big master suite. One day, you decide to knock down the wall between your rooms and claim their space as your own. That's like annexation - when one country expands its territory by taking control over another country's land.

Related terms

Sovereignty: Sovereignty refers to the supreme power or authority that a state has within its own borders. It determines how a state governs itself and interacts with other states.

Territorial Dispute: A territorial dispute occurs when two or more countries claim ownership or control over a particular piece of land. These disputes often arise due to conflicting historical, political, or cultural reasons.

Imperialism: Imperialism is the policy or practice of extending a nation's power and influence through colonization, military conquest, or economic domination over other territories or countries. It often involves annexing territories to expand an empire's control.