Type of state (8)
I believe the answer is:
republic
'type of state' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for republic that I've seen before include "Plato's ideal state" , "Cuba, say" , "The political system is an epic blur" , "Nation in which the head of state is elected" , "State in which the people hold the power" .)