neocolonialism

noun

1. the policy of a strong nation in seeking political and economic hegemony over an independent nation or extended geographical area without necessarily reducing the subordinate nation or area to the legal status of a colony.

noun

1. (in the modern world) political control by an outside power of a country that is in theory sovereign and independent, esp through the domination of its economy

n.also neo-colonialism, 1955, from neo- + colonialism. The dominance of strong nations over weak nations, not by direct political control (as in traditional colonialism), but by economic and cultural influence.