Concerning open country like ours (8)

I believe the answer is:

republic

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But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?

(Other definitions for republic that I've seen before include "Nation in which the head of state is elected" , "The political system is an epic blur" , "Cure blip (anag.)" , "Cuba, say" , "France, for example, is one" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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