community of sovereign republics: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (C2)Formal, Historical, Political, Academic
Quick answer
What does “community of sovereign republics” mean?
A political entity or alliance formed by multiple independent republics that retain their sovereignty while cooperating in certain shared areas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A political entity or alliance formed by multiple independent republics that retain their sovereignty while cooperating in certain shared areas.
A formal or informal grouping of self-governing states that have chosen to collaborate politically, economically, or militarily, while each maintaining ultimate authority over its own territory and internal affairs. Historically, this specific phrase is most associated with proposals and political discourse surrounding the dissolution of the USSR.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The concept is discussed identically in both geopolitical discourses. Spelling follows standard national conventions (e.g., 'sovereign' is same).
Connotations
In both varieties, the term carries strong connotations of post-Soviet political theory and 20th-century history. It is a highly specialised term.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage in both regions, confined to historical, political science, or area studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “community of sovereign republics” in a Sentence
The [Community of Sovereign Republics] was proposed in [1991].[Country] considered joining the [Community of Sovereign Republics].The concept of a [community of sovereign republics] failed to materialise.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in historical analyses of post-Soviet markets.
Academic
Used in political science, modern history, and Slavic studies to discuss post-1991 political structures in the former USSR.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
A specific term in historical-political discourse referring to a proposed alternative to the CIS.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community of sovereign republics”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community of sovereign republics”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community of sovereign republics”
- Using it as a general phrase instead of a specific historical/political term.
- Capitalising incorrectly: it is not a proper noun unless referring to a specific proposed entity (e.g., 'the proposed Community of Sovereign Republics').
- Confusing it with the 'Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS), which is the actual organisation that formed.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily a historical political concept and term used during the dissolution of the USSR. The actual organisation that formed was the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
In a community of sovereign republics, the member states retain full sovereignty and the central body has only powers delegated by agreement. In a federation, sovereignty is constitutionally divided between the central government and the states/provinces.
It is highly specific and dated. For modern analogous groupings, terms like 'regional organisation', 'alliance', or 'confederation' are more appropriate and commonly understood.
It is not a high-utility term for general learners. Its importance is confined to students of history, political science, or those engaging with specific texts about late 20th-century Eurasian politics.
A political entity or alliance formed by multiple independent republics that retain their sovereignty while cooperating in certain shared areas.
Community of sovereign republics is usually formal, historical, political, academic in register.
Community of sovereign republics: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnəti əv ˈsɒvrɪn rɪˈpʌblɪks/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmjunəti əv ˈsɑːvrɪn rɪˈpʌblɪks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A COMMUNITY (group) where each member is a SOVEREIGN (fully independent) REPUBLIC (a state without a monarchy). It's like a neighbourhood of completely self-ruling houses that agree on some shared rules.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CLUB OF NATIONS; A NEIGHBOURHOOD OF INDEPENDENT HOUSES; A PARTNERSHIP OF EQUALS.
Practice
Quiz
The phrase 'community of sovereign republics' is most closely associated with which historical context?