essay on balance of power

ESSAY VI. Of the Balance of Power. BP 1, Mil 332. I T is a question whether the idea of the balance of power be owing entirely to modern policy, or whether the phrase only has been invented in these later ages?

Richard Little's new book has considerably widened the scope for thinking about the balance of power in International Relations (IR), both by beginning to provide a conceptual history of the idea and by expanding existing balance-of-power models.

He attempts to answer these questions by developing a balance of power framework based on metaphors, myths and models, by analysing four canonical texts,2 and by formulating a composite view of the balance of power himself. The book makes a number of distinctive contributions, yet also suffers from some notable flaws.

With this reflection as a guide, this essay examines certain interpretations of the balance of power concept throughout history. It is selective rather than comprehensive, and it aims to shine light on an older, seemingly forgotten variety of the idea.

The balance of power is one theory of how international politics work, and how states interact. To show how balance-of-power theory is useful and warranted, scholars often refer to historical examples of how the balance of power has been operating.

The Balance of Power in World History (BoPinWH), ents a sustained broadside against balance of power utors - Wohlforth, Kaufman, Little, Eckstein, Jones, and Kang - survey a range of international ancient Middle East to East Asia between 1300 argue that while one can detect evidence of balance.

19 - Of the balance of power. Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012. David Hume. Edited by. Knud Haakonssen. Chapter. Get access. Cite. Summary. I t is a question, whether the idea of the balance of power be owing entirely to modern policy, or whether the phrase only has been invented in these later ages?

Reconceiving the balance of power: a review essay. Abstract Richard Little's new book has considerably widened the scope for thinking about the balance of power in International Relations (IR), both by beginning to provide a conceptual history of the idea and by expanding existing balance-of-power models.

balance of power is to prevent any power from becoming too strong, first by deterring aggression, but if that fails, by ensuring that the aggressor does not significantly alter the balance of power. For realists, balance of power is born in the crucible of international anarchy.

At the heart of balance of power theory lies the insight that power counts decisively in international relations, and that the crucial data are to be found in the answer to the question: which states have how much of what kind of power?