statelet

noun

1. (derogatory, sometimes)A very small nation-state, or a region that acts like a nation-state

   “Egypt talks to Hamas but is not eager to see the radical Islamic group succeed in running a small statelet next door.”

   “In 2014, the European statelet of Liechtenstein followed the Swiss lead and returned $227 million that had been stolen by [Sani] Abacha's son […]”

   “Ms McDonald’s party has long argued that Northern Ireland is not working – a “failed statelet” being their chosen description.”