Crossword Genius

Almost mad about people in an unstable state (6,8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

banana republic

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'an unstable state' is the definition.
(I know that banana republic is a type of unstable state)

'almost mad about people' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (almost the whole word is kept).
'mad' becomes 'bananas' (I've seen this in another clue).
'about people' becomes 'republic' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'bananas' with its last letter removed is 'banana'.
'banana'+'republic'='BANANA REPUBLIC'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for banana republic that I've seen before include "weak state" , "Small politically unstable country dominated by foreign companies" , "state precariously run" , "Small state dependant on one export" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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