Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

Suzerainty is having political control over a ______ state.

dependent

The correct option to fill in the blank is dependent.

Suzerainty is a political relationship in which one state (the suzerain) has power over another state (the vassal), but the vassal retains its own internal autonomy. The vassal state is dependent on the suzerain for protection and military assistance, and it usually pays tribute to the suzerain.

In this context, the dependent state is the one that is under the political control of the suzerain.

The other options are not as appropriate.

• Unified means joined into one unit. This is not the right word to use, as it does not make sense to say that the dependent state is unified.
• Democratic means having a government in which the supreme power is held by the people and exercised by them directly or through elected representatives. This is not the right word to use, as it does not make sense to say that the dependent state is democratic.
• Backward means not as developed as other places. This is not the right word to use, as it does not make sense to say that the dependent state is backward.