6. Satellite State
In this transcript, Assad used the political expression satellite state in refer to some countries which are under the influence of the world’s powerful countries,
especially those who wish him off the throne A4. Lexically, satellite state means a country controlled by or depending on a more powerful country. However, this
expression does not portray these dependent countries quite realistically. In fact, many countries are being used to further the interest the controlling countries and
these dependent countries do not have a choice or power to refuse. An example of such country is Pakistan. Pakistani government and army have been under United
States’ strong economy and military wings for years in order to fight Pakistan based jihadist groups. The US has been supporting Pakistan with aid and military trainings
and equipments. Pakistani army, due to being indebted to the US, is employed to train Syrian rebel forces in the civil war. This is conducted to help the US achieve their
aim, which is to bring down Assad’s military force. It means that the US does not intervene in Pakistan’s internal anti-terrorism measures only. Pakistani army is used
by the US for the US’ interest in the Middle East. Satellite state implies that the weaker countries are controlled by the powerful countries for the betterment and
interests of the weaker countries themselves. This is obviously not always the case, as shown in the example of Pakistan and United State’s relation. Therefore, the
expression satellite state is not the most representative expression of what is actually happening in reality.
Puppet is defined as a person or group whose actions are controlled by someone else. It means that a puppet is being used or manipulated by someone else
for the other person’s interests instead of its own. Compared to satellite, the expression puppet contains the semantic property manipulated while satellite does
not. Therefore, puppet is more likely to represent the relation between weaker and powerful states.
Pawn is defined as a person who does not have any real power but is used by others to achieve something. That being said, the semantic properties of the
expression are manipulated and powerless. Both of these semantic properties are not found in satellite. Satellite implies the country, to some extent, still has the power to
refuse to be controlled or used. It means that the country is voluntarily controlled by others with more power. Since that is not necessarily true in reality, the expression
pawn is more appropriate due to its semantic property powerless. In order to see the distinction between these three expressions, the table below shows the semantic
properties of satellite, puppet, and pawn. satellite
puppet pawn
controlled by its superior +
+ +
manipulated -
± +
powerless -
+ +
Table 8. Semantic properties of satellite, puppet, and pawn
7. Obedient
Obedient is doing, or willing to do, what you have been told to do by someone in authority. It implies that the person is deliberately obeying someone. Assad used
this expression to describe his oppositions who are merely executors of policies or resolutions A4. Many countries have imposed sanctions and arm embargoes on
Syria due to the atrocities committed by Assad and his people. These sanctions and embargoes are a part of the United Nations’ resolution after a meeting of the United
Nations Security Council was concluded. Therefore, even though there were countries which were reluctant or unwilling to do so because imposing sanction might
be economically burdening, they were bound to execute it anyway because they were members of the United Nations. A similar situation took place in Europe as the
European Union decided to adopt the resolution. Some member countries of the European Union who felt the sanction was burdening and unnecessary would have to
follow suit anyway. Since majority of the member countries of United Nations were supporting the resolutions, countries which were reluctant would then be influenced
or lobbied by more powerful countries to adopt the resolution. Being a minority on this case, those countries did not have much to say and finally they agreed to adopt
the resolution. It also proves that being a member of supranational organizations means that it has to give up its individual judgment for the sake of collective
judgment even if sometimes it is against its own will. Therefore, the expression obedient does not quite cover this reality since it lacks the semantic properties easily
influenced and without one’s own judgment.
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