Gideon RachmanThinkers

An American lake (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a sea a power treats as its own, and a rival's flight over it is a provocation while ours is routine.

A Zone of influence (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠something a power grants itself and withholds from others, until power is diffused enough to make it simple common sense.