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Question
What is ‘Balance of Power’? How could a state achieve this?
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Solution
The concept of the Balance of Power (BOP) is one of the oldest and the most talked about concepts of the international theory. The term seeks to explain the fundamental law on which the international politics is based.
According to Morgenthau, the term Balance of Power implies the actual state of affairs in which powers is distributed amongst several nations with approximate equality. The BOP is based on the following aspects:
a. It seeks to explain the dynamics of international power politics.
b. It is based on two main assumptions. Firstly, states are the principal actors in the international arena whose main interests are to safeguard their territorial integrity and sovereignty. Secondly, it is based on the premise that the international system is anarchic, with no world government that can regulate actions of the states. Thus, it is a self-help system in which the states are to guard their interests on their own.
c. This can only come about if the states increase their military, economic and technological capabilities.
d. The states may also enter into alliance with other states so as to counter balance another coalition. For example, during the Cold war, the Balance of Power was maintained with the USSR, posing a challenge to the US, and also through the formation of military alliances counter weighing each other’s moves.
States can achieve the Balance of Power through the following:
a. A state may enhance its own capabilities by self strengthening its military and economic capabilities so as to serve as a challenge to the other states which is likely to turn aggressor in the future.
b. A state may also enter into an alliance with other states.
c. Countries may also accumulate more weapons so as to maintain a balance in the international system. One of the best examples may be the race for nuclear weapons which was more of a chain reaction. With the US possessing nuclear weapons, the USSR became a nuclear power, followed by Britain and France in order to maintain that balance in the European region.
d. Countries may also set up neutral buffer states which are relatively weak to maintain balance between the two powerful unfriendly nations.
According to Morgenthau, the term Balance of Power implies the actual state of affairs in which powers is distributed amongst several nations with approximate equality. The BOP is based on the following aspects:
a. It seeks to explain the dynamics of international power politics.
b. It is based on two main assumptions. Firstly, states are the principal actors in the international arena whose main interests are to safeguard their territorial integrity and sovereignty. Secondly, it is based on the premise that the international system is anarchic, with no world government that can regulate actions of the states. Thus, it is a self-help system in which the states are to guard their interests on their own.
c. This can only come about if the states increase their military, economic and technological capabilities.
d. The states may also enter into alliance with other states so as to counter balance another coalition. For example, during the Cold war, the Balance of Power was maintained with the USSR, posing a challenge to the US, and also through the formation of military alliances counter weighing each other’s moves.
b. It is based on two main assumptions. Firstly, states are the principal actors in the international arena whose main interests are to safeguard their territorial integrity and sovereignty. Secondly, it is based on the premise that the international system is anarchic, with no world government that can regulate actions of the states. Thus, it is a self-help system in which the states are to guard their interests on their own.
c. This can only come about if the states increase their military, economic and technological capabilities.
d. The states may also enter into alliance with other states so as to counter balance another coalition. For example, during the Cold war, the Balance of Power was maintained with the USSR, posing a challenge to the US, and also through the formation of military alliances counter weighing each other’s moves.
States can achieve the Balance of Power through the following:
a. A state may enhance its own capabilities by self strengthening its military and economic capabilities so as to serve as a challenge to the other states which is likely to turn aggressor in the future.
b. A state may also enter into an alliance with other states.
c. Countries may also accumulate more weapons so as to maintain a balance in the international system. One of the best examples may be the race for nuclear weapons which was more of a chain reaction. With the US possessing nuclear weapons, the USSR became a nuclear power, followed by Britain and France in order to maintain that balance in the European region.
d. Countries may also set up neutral buffer states which are relatively weak to maintain balance between the two powerful unfriendly nations.
b. A state may also enter into an alliance with other states.
c. Countries may also accumulate more weapons so as to maintain a balance in the international system. One of the best examples may be the race for nuclear weapons which was more of a chain reaction. With the US possessing nuclear weapons, the USSR became a nuclear power, followed by Britain and France in order to maintain that balance in the European region.
d. Countries may also set up neutral buffer states which are relatively weak to maintain balance between the two powerful unfriendly nations.
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