Question

What's the difference between a mandate and a colony?

Answer 1

Mandate - Authority without ownership
Colony - Authority through ownership

Explanation:

Colonies are areas of land that fall under the control of a foreign power and are permanently owned by that power in every aspect

Mandated territories are areas of land that are administered policed and controlled by a foreign power where that control is authorised by an international or multinational body (ie the United Nations) usually for a distinct purpose or until certain things come to pass

For example after WW2 Britain was given a mandate to control and administer Palestine by the United Nations