What is Banana Republic? (not the clothing!) Why these places or countries called like that?

Answer 1

"Banana republic" - is a pejorative term for a country with a kleptocratic government, often with a primitive economy and sometimes a puppet state of a major power.

It is a pejorative term for a small, often Latin American, Caribbean or African country that is politically unstable, dependent on limited agriculture, and ruled by a small, self-elected, wealthy and corrupt clique.

In most cases they have kept the government structures that were modeled after the colonial Spanish ruling clique, with a small, largely leisure class on the top and a large, poorly educated and poorly paid working class of peons.

The term was coined by O. Henry, an American humorist and short story writer, in reference to Honduras.

"Republic" in his time was often a euphemism for a dictatorship.

while "banana" implied an easy reliance on basic agriculture and backwardness in the development of modern industrial technology.

Frequently the subject of mockery and humour, and usually presided over by a dictatorial military junta that exaggerates its own power and importance—"the epaulettes of a banana republic generalissimo" are proverbially of considerable size, usually portrayed in satire with a pair of mops.

- A banana republic also typically has large wealth and income inequities, poor infrastructure, poor schools, a backward economy, low capital spending, a reliance on foreign capital and money printing, budget deficits, and a weakening currency.

- Banana republics are typically also highly prone to revolutions and coups.

Answer 2

"Banana Republic" is, as you well-know, a clothing company. It is also the name given by Herman Melville to the Florida Keys in the U.S. Due to its tropical climate there, the fact that it is a series of keys (islands), Melville and others wanted it to secede and become an independent country. Banana Republic also refers to ANY tropical country, such as Panama or the Philippines, that grows bananas; it is also a derogatory term referring to countries controlled by dictators.

Answer 3

The men in those Republics have bananas!

Answer 4

Cuba and Venezuela are the banana republics.

Answer 5

The name was originally applied to some third world countries which relied on the exports of bananas for their economies...such as Guatemala.