Balance of Power

Outline
1. Introduction
2. Balance Power Defined
3. Types of BOP
4. Characteristics of BOP
5. Techniques of BOP
6. Criticism of BOP
 Introduction

• BOP means that there is a rough equilibrium of

power between various nations.
• The concept of equilibrium has been taken from
the field of mechanics and is being put to use in
many other sciences such as physics, biology,
economics and sociology.
• No nation can live in isolation and a large
number of nations with varying degree of power
exist and each nation tries to maximize its power.
 Introduction

• To achieve this end various nations form

groups so that no single nation or other group
of nations become strong enough to dominate
others.
• The power of one group is balanced by the
other opposing group. So long as there is this
type of balance, there is peace. War is the test
for the existence of disequilibrium.
 Balance Power defined

• It is difficult to define BOP as Martin Wight

says that it is notoriously full of confusion.
• Inis L. Claude says: “ the trouble with the BOP
is not that it has no meanings but it has too
many meanings.”
• But the essential idea of BOP is very simple. It
implies the equilibrium of the type represented
by a pair of scale. If the weights in the scale are
equal the balance results.
 Balance Power defined

• But when the principle is applied to IR, the concept

of BOP means “that through shifting alliances and
countervailing pressures, no one power or
combination of powers will be allowed to grow so
strong as to threaten the security of the rest. ( Palmer
and Perkins)
• Prof. Fay defined as “ Just equilibrium in power
among the family of nations as will prevent any one
of them from becoming sufficiently strong to enforce
its will upon the others.
 Balance Power defined

• George Schwarzenberger says as “ an equilibrium or

a certain amount of stability in IR”
• Hartman “ BOP may be described as a system in the
sense that one power bloc leads to the emergence of
other and it ultimatly leads to a network of alliances.”
• Thus the concept of BOF rests on the basics
assumption that excessive power anywhere in the
system is a threat to the existence of other units and
that most effective antidote to power is power only.
 Two types of Balances
• The simple balance which exist between two
nations or any two group of nations of nearly
equal power.
• The multiple balance exist among many nations
or group of nations, balancing each other.
• Morgenthau “ it is an actually state of affairs in
which power is distributed among several
nations with approximate equality”
 Balance Power defined

• The theory is thus an application of the checks

and balance theory of domestic politics to
international politics.
 Types of BOP
• Simple or complex BOP: If the BOF aims at
preservation of safety of nationalities, it is
known as simple BOF ( peaceful coexistence)
• The BOF is considered complex if it
concentrates on the preservation of peace due
to warring positions of the two militant
nations ( arms race or alignment).
 Types of BOP
• Local , Regional or World-wide BOF: If the BOF
seeks to checkmate only one power or state,
which poses a threat to the freedom of other
neighboring states, it is regarded as local.
• If the BOF aims at maintaining balance in a
particular geographical or political region, it is
regarded as regional BOF. ( 19th century Europe).
• The BOF is regarded as world-wide if it concern
more than region. (Cold war)
 Types of BOP
• Rigid or Flexible BOP: BOF is rigid if two
groups of states take a particular stand and are
not willing to deviate from that stand (Cold
War)
• It is flexible if the member states change their
alignments and seek fresh alliances due to
changed circumstances.
 Characteristics
1. BOF is subject to constant changes - from
equilibrium to disequilibrium.
2. It is not a gift of God but it is achieved by
active intervention of man. It is not
automatic.
3. BOF favors the ‘status quo’ but to be
effective, the policy must be changing and
dynamic one.
 Characteristics
4. It offers both an objective approach of a historian
and subjective approach of a statesman.
 The historian will say that there is a balance when
the opposing group seem equal in power.
 The statesman will say that there is a balance when
he thinks his side is stronger than the other. Hence
nations which play the balance of power game seek
not balance but an imbalance - in their favor.
 Characteristics
5. This game is meant for big powers and small
powers are like weights in a balance used by
others.
6. Lastly to keep the balance, it requires a
balancing power for the successful operation of
the system.
7. Real BOF seldom exists. Its real test is war. If
war takes place it means that real BOP was not
there.
 Techniques of BOF
1. Alliances and counter alliances. When a state
feels that it cannot defend itself against another
big state, it enters into alliances with another
weak or powerful state for achieving its goal.
 The alliances are of two types – offensive and
defensive. The offensive alliance seeks to upset
the BOF in favor of its members and a defensive
alliance aims at restoring the balance. e.g Triple
Alliance (1882) vs Triple Entente (1907)
 Techniques of BOF
2. Compensation: Territorial compensation was a
common method for maintaining BOF in the
18th and 19th centuries.
 It was frequently used by strong powers at the
expense of weaker ones at the end of war.
 The Mandate System whereby a territory could
be given to a power in the form of trust. It was
abandoned after WW1 in 14 points of Wilson
and after WW2 altogether abandoned.
 Techniques of BOF
3. Partition. Major powers divide the territory in
such a way that there is no danger of any one
acquiring a predominant position.
 In 1872 Poland was divided between Russia,
Prussia (1525-1947) (Germany), Austria-
Hungary so that relative power of each of the
three major states of the time could be
maintained.
 Techniques of BOF
4. Armament and Disarmament: acquiring arms is
armament and its reduction is disarmament.
5. Intervention and war: It is usually adopted as a
last resort. Intervention is a dictatorial
interference in the internal affairs of another
country by a powerful nation in order to extract
some specific concessions by a powerful nation.
 USSR intervention in North Korea. The
ultimate form of intervention is war.
 Techniques of BOF
6. Divide and Rule : This device has been resorted to
by nations who want to keep their competitors
weak by keeping them divided. Britain in
Subcontinent. Division of Europe during cold war.
7. Buffer States : Two states agree on a policy of no-
interference in the affaires of a third neighboring
state. Afghanistan remained as a BS between
Russia and British India during 19th and early 20th
century.
 Techniques of BOF
8. Neutralization: Sometimes a country is
neutralized to create a sort of buffer between
two powerful countries and they pledge not to
attack it or unnecessarily interfere in its
affairs.
 Belgium was neutralized in Europe and when
Germany violated its neutrality in 1914, it
was strongly resented by England and France.
 Utility of BOF
• Firstly it has greatly contributed to the
preservation of peace in the absence of system
of collective security. It has checked
aggression.
• Due to BOF no state is sure about its victory
hence shall not resort to war.
• E H Carr is of the opinion that peace in Europe
in 19th century was due to BOF.
 Utility of BOF
• Secondly, the principle of BOF has greatly
contributed to the preservation of the modern
state system by guaranteeing independence of
smaller states.
• Thirdly in the absence of any effective
machinery for the enforcement of international
law, the BOF has extorted obedience of
international law.
 Criticism
• Firstly it has encouraged war.
• Secondly power is not the only aim of a state
but economics development.
• Thirdly states not only increase power through
armament but also industrialization.
• Fourthly BOF is not the only consideration of
a state but national interest is its primary
concern.
 Criticism
• Fifthly BOF vs preponderance of power.
• Sixthly BOF cannot be measured as power.
• Finally there is no such thing as a balancer.
England played this role for a long time for
national interest.