THE BALANCE OF POWER

The aspiration for power on the part of several nations.

Each trying either
1: to maintain or
2: overthrow the status quo,
Leads of necessity to a configuration that is called the
balance of power and to policies that aim at preserving it.
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The term "balance of power" is used in the text with four
different meanings:
(1) as a policy aimed at a certain state of affairs,
(2) as an actual state of affairs,
(3) as an approximately equal distribution of power,
(4) as any distribution of power
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BALANCE OF POWER AS UNIVERSAL CONCEPT
The concept of "equilibrium" as a synonym for "balance" is
commonly employed in many sciences –physics, biology,
economics, sociology, and political science.
“Equilibrium exists in the human body”.
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We search for a proper balance between different
geographical regions. Such as the East and the West, the
North and the South; between different kinds of activities,
such as agriculture and industry, heavy and light industries,
big and small businesses, producers and consumers,
management and labor.
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Two assumptions are at the foundation of all such
equilibriums:
First, that the elements to be balanced are necessary for
society or are entitled to exist and,
Second. That without a state of equilibrium among them
one element will gain ascendancy over the others…
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It is the purpose of all such equilibriums to maintain the stability
of the system without destroying the multiplicity of the elements
composing it.
If the goal were stability alone. It could be achieved by
allowing one element to destroy or overwhelm the others and
take their place.
Since the goal is stability plus the preservation of all the
elements of the system. The equilibrium must aim at preventing
any element from gaining ascendancy over the others
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TWO MAIN PATTERNS OF THE BALANCE OF POWER
The struggle for power on the international scene can be
carried on the two typical patterns.
1: The pattern of direct opposition
2: The pattern of competition
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The pattern of direct opposition
Nation A may embark upon an imperialistic policy with regard to nation B.
And nation B may counter that policy with a policy of the status quo or with
an imperialistic policy of its own.
France and its allies opposing Russia in 1812, Japan opposing China from
1931 to 1941. The united nations vs. The axis from 1941 on, Correspond to
that pattern.
The pattern is one of direct opposition between the nation that wants to
establish its power over another nation and the latter, which refuses to yield.
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Nation A may also pursue an imperialistic policy toward
nation C. Which may either resist or acquiesce in that
policy, while nation B follows with regard to nation C either
a policy of imperialism or one of the status quo.
The pattern of the struggle for power between a and b is
here not one of direct opposition, but of competition.
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This pattern is visible, for instance. In the competition
between Great Britain and Russia for the domination of
Iran. In which the struggle for power between the two
countries has repeatedly manifested itself during the last
hundred years.
THE PATTERN OF COMPETITION
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DIFFERENT METHODS OF THE BALANCE OF POWER
The balancing process can be carried on either by diminishing
the weight of the heavier scale or by increasing the weight of
the lighter one.
1: Divide and rule ,
2: Compensations ,
3: Armaments, and
4: Alliances
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1: Divide and rule
It has been resorted to by nations who tried to make or keep
their competitors weak by dividing them or keeping them
divided.
The most consistent and important policies of this kind in modern
times are the policy of France with respect to Germany and the
policy of the soviet union with respect to the rest of Europe.
From the seventeenth century to the end of the second world
war.
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2: Compensations
Compensations of a territorial nature were a common device in
the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries for maintaining a
balance of power which had been. Or was to be, disturbed by
the territorial acquisitions of one nation.
Fertility of the soil and number and quality of the populations
concerned were used as objective standards by which to
determine the increase in power which the individual nations
received through the acquisition of territory.
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The competition between France, Great Britain, and Italy
for the domination of Ethiopia was provisionally resolved.
After the model of the partitions of Poland, By the treaty
of 1906, Which divided the country into three spheres of
influence for the purpose of establishing in that region a
balance of power among the nations concerned.
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3: Armaments
The principal means, However, By which a nation endeavors with
the power at its disposal to maintain or re-establish the balance
of power are armaments.
The Washington naval treaty of 1922, In which Great Britain,
The United States, Japan, France. And Italy agreed to a
proportionate reduction and limitation of naval armaments.
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4: Alliance
The historically most important manifestation of the
balance of power. However, is to be found not in the
equilibrium of two isolated nations but in the relations
between one nation or alliance of nations and another
alliance.
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The general nature of alliances: alliances are a necessary
function of the balance of power operating within a multiple-
state system.
Great Britain and the united states have also refrained from
concluding an alliance with each other even though, from the
proclamation of the Monroe doctrine in 1823 to the attack on
pearl harbor in 194 l they have acted. At least in relation to the
other European nations, as if they were allied.
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With regard to the continent of Europe, the united states and
Great Britain have had one interest in common: the preservation
of the European balance of power.
we can distinguish alliances serving identical, complementary,
and ideological interests and policies. We can further distinguish
mutual and one-sided, general and limited, temporary and
permanent, operative and inoperative alliances....
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Alliances VS World Domination:
Alliances vs. Counteralliances:
the period between the two world wars stands in fact under the sign
of the balance of power by alliances and Counteralliances. Although
in theory, the principle of the balance of power was supposed to
have been superseded by the League of Nations principle of
collective security. Yet, actually, collective security ... did not abolish
the balance of power.
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THE "HOLDER" OF THE BALANCE
To paraphrase a statement of Palmerston: While holder of the
balance has no permanent friends. it has no permanent enemies
either; it has only the permanent interest of maintaining the balance
of power itself.
The holder of the balance occupies the key position in the balance-of-
power system. since its position determines the outcome of the
struggle for power. It has, therefore. been called the “arbiter" of the
system, deciding who will win and who will lose
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The classic example of the balancer has, however, been
provided by Great Britain. To Henry VITI is attributed the
maxim: “Clli adhaem praeest”
(He whom I support will prevail).
Perhaps, the Great Britain was the “Holder” of European
Balance of power. And now, the US is regarded as the
“Holder” of world balance of power.
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DOMINANT AND DEPENDENT SYSTEMS
We have spoken thus far of the balance of power as if it were
one single system comprehending all nations actively engaged
in international politics. Closer observation, however, reveals
that such a system is frequently composed of a number of
subsystems that are interrelated with each other, but that
maintain within themselves a balance of power of their own.
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STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE BALANCE OF POWER
In recent times the relations between the dominant balance
of power and the local systems have shown an ever
increasing tendency to change to the detriment of the
autonomy of the local systems.
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We have already indicated the gradual expansion of the
dominant balance-or-power system from Western and
Central Europe to the rest of the continent, and from there
to other continents. Until finally the First World War saw all
the nations of the earth actively participating in a world-
wide balance of power.
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Hand in hand with the consummation of this expansion went
a shift of the main weights of the balance from Europe to
other continents. At the outbreak of the First World War in
1914, the main weights in the balance were predominantly
European: Great Britain. France, and Russia in one scale.
Germany and Austria in the other.
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EVALUATION OF THE BALANCE OF POWER
Considering especially its changed structure, how are we to
evaluate the balance of power and to assess its future
usefulness for the preservation of peace and security in the
modern world?
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The Uncertainty of the Balance of Power

The Unreality of the Balance of Power
The dynamics of international politics as they play between
status quo and imperialistic nations. lead of necessity to such a
disturbance of the balance of power that war appears as the
only policy that offers the status quo nations at least a chance
to redress the balance of power in their favor.
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Analysis: