banana republics

Cultural  

1. A term describing any of several small nations in Latin America that have economies based on a few agricultural crops.

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The term banana republic is often used in a disparaging sense; it suggests an unstable government.

Example Sentences

This is the stuff of banana republics and countries that have been or are under the control of dictatorial power.

From BBC

So it’s not the “banana republics” that hold former leaders to account.

From Washington Post

Guatemala is of course one of the so-called banana republics, whose national politics were subjugated for much of the 20th century to the interests of the United Fruit Company.

From New York Times

“We used to scoff at these countries around us as banana republics. But ... we are worse than them,” she said of a regulatory environment that has allowed questionable financial activities to flourish.

From Washington Post

“This is what separates us from the banana republics that others want to flee,” the members wrote.

From Washington Times