page_title: Sphere of influence
section_title: Other examples
hierarchical_section_title: Sphere of influence / Other examples
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Das Große Spiel: der afghanische Emir Sher Ali mit seinen „Freunden“ Russland und Großbritannien. Text: “Save me from my friends.” (engl. „Beschütze mich vor meinen Freunden.“) English: The Great Game: the afghan Emir Sher Ali Khan with his "friends" Russia and Great Britain. Text: "Save me from my friends." Español: El Gran Juego: el emir afgano Sher Ali rodeado por el oso ruso y el león británico: "Sálvenme de mis amigos". Polski: Wielka Gra: afgański emir Sher Ali Khan ze swoimi "przyjaciółmi" Rosją i Wielką Brytanią. Tekst: "Save me from my friends." (ang. "Uratujcie mnie od moich przyjaciół.") Русский: «Спасите меня от моих друзей». Карикатура времён Большой игры. Афганский эмир Шер Али между Россией (медведь) и Англией (лев) Türkçe: Büyük Oyun ile ilgili siyasi bir karikatür&#160;; Şer Ali Han ve arkadaşları Rus ayısı ile İngiliz aslanı (1878).
context_page_description: In the field of international relations, a sphere of influence is a spatial region or concept division over which a state or organization has a level of cultural, economic, military, or political exclusivity.
  While there may be a formal alliance or other treaty obligations between the influenced and influencer, such formal arrangements are not necessary and the influence can often be more of an example of soft power. Similarly, a formal alliance does not necessarily mean that one country lies within another's sphere of influence. High levels of exclusivity have historically been associated with higher levels of conflict.
  In more extreme cases, a country within the "sphere of influence" of another may become a subsidiary of that state and serve in effect as a satellite state or de facto colony. The system of spheres of influence by which powerful nations intervene in the affairs of others continues to the present. It is often analyzed in terms of superpowers, great powers, and/or middle powers.
  Sometimes portions of a single country can fall into two distinct spheres of influence.
context_section_description: For historical and current examples of significant battles over spheres of influence see:
  The Great Game
  Geostrategy in Central Asia
caption: An 1878 British cartoon about The Great Game between the United Kingdom and Russia over influence in Central Asia
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