There's a continuum between direct central administration and tributary/vassal status. The Roman Empire, for example, often had big chunks of land that were en

There's a continuum between direct central administration and tributary/vassal status. The Roman Empire, for example, often had big chunks of land that were entirely run by local people, but were 'part of the Roman Empire' as far as public perception. Look strong and all that. (this went back and forth in different places at different times, sometimes there was very strong central bureaucracy). The US, by contrast, insists that we're merely allies with all of these countries that host more US military power than they even have domestically, only buy US weapons, trade using our currency, scrupulously respect US intellectual property law, vote with us in the UN nearly 100% of the time.. it's a different political posture for a different time.