What is a colony an example of in terms of international relations?

A colony exemplifies colonial dependency within the context of international relations. This term highlights the relationship between the colonizing power and the colonized territory, where the colony relies economically, politically, and often culturally on the authority of the colonizer. This dependency is characterized by the fact that the colonized region typically does not have autonomous governance and is instead governed directly or indirectly by the colonizing nation.

In this scenario, the colonized territory lacks sovereignty as it is not an independent state. Instead, it is subjected to the laws, administration, and economic control of the colonizing country. This dependence can manifest through trade monopolies, resource extraction, and imposition of the colonizer's culture and systems.

Understanding colonial dependency is crucial as it sets the stage for many conflicts and developments in global history, including struggles for independence and the legacy of colonialism that continues to affect international relations today.