What is the meaning of Balance of power? Point out its characteristics.
Meaning of Balance of Power
Ordinary Meaning
In the ordinary sense, the balance of power means that there is a rough equilibrium of power between various nations. Scholars have taken this concept of equilibrium from the field of mechanics. It implies the ‘equilibrium of the type represented by a pair of scales. If the weights in the scales are equal the balance results.
Palmer and Perskins
Applied to international relations, the concept of balance of power 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 .
In Encyclopedia of the Social Science Prof. Fay defined the balance of power as “just equilibrium in power among the members of the family of nations as will prevent any one of them from becoming sufficiently strong to enforce its will upon the other.”
George Schwarzenberger
The balance of power is “an equilibrium or a certain amount of stability in international relations.”
Hartman
“The balance of power may be described as a system in the sense that one power bloc leads to the emergence of another and it ultimately leads to a network of alliances.”
There are two types of balances. The simple balance which exists between two nations or any two groups of nations nearly equal power. The multiple balance, which exists among many nations or groups of nations, balancing one another.
Lord Castlereagh
The balance of power is “the maintenance of such just equilibrium between the members of the family of nations as should prevent any of them becoming sufficiently strong to impose its will upon the rest.” In practice, however, in the name of balance of power, the nations have usually preferred preponderance of power. Nicholas J. Spykman observes: “The truth of the matter is that states are interested only in a balance which is in their favour.”
Quincy Wright
“It is a system designed to maintain a continuous conviction in any state that if it attempts aggression it would encounter an invincible combination of the others.”
Morgenthau
“It is an actual state of affairs in which power is distributed among several nations with approximate equality.” Morgenthau attached four different meanings to the term. These are the following:
a. As a policy aimed at a certain state of affairs at bringing about a certain power distribution.
b. As an actual state of affairs in which power is distributed among several nations with approximate equality,
c. As an approximately equal distribution of power, and
d. As any distribution of power.
Has gives eight different interpretations of balance of power. These are distribution of power, a balance or equilibrium, hegemony or imbalance, stability and peace, instability and war, power politics, a universal law of history and a system and guide to policy makers. Users employ it simply to describe, as propaganda, to analyse, or to provide a guiding principle for those who make foreign policy decisions, according to their intention.
Concluding Remarks
To conclude, the balance of power means the following:
Description – This indicates the character of the situation in which the power relationship roughly equalizes, e.g., when one group holds the balance of power in relation to its groups.
Policy. When identified as a policy, the balance of power means that unbalanced power is dangerous. Thus as a sage guide to policy in a multistate system, we could prevent the undesirable behaviour of other states only by confronting power with counteracting power.
System . Wright, Taylor, and Charles Lorche have called the balance of power a system, which refers to a kind of arrangement for the conduct of international relations in a multi-state world when viewed as a system of international politics.
Symbol of Realism – Used as a symbol of realism the balance of power is based on the view that a disregard for balance of power shows the neglect of power factor in international politics. On the other hand, the policies based on balance of power explicitly imply the existence of power factor in international politics. ‘The realists view international politics as nothing but a struggle for power. When this term is used in this context, it indicates the reality of power politics.
Characteristics of Balance of Power
Constant Change – The balance of power is subject to constant change-from equilibrium to disequilibrium.
Achieved- A balance of power is not a gift to God. Men actively intervene to achieve it. No state can wait for long to allow the balance of power to establish automatically.
Dynamism – To preserve a balance against the growing preponderance of power, a state must be ready to go to war. The balance of power favours the ‘status quo’ but to be effective, the policy must be changing and dynamic.
Seldom Exists – Real balance of power seldom exists. Though its test is war, if war takes place it means the real balance of power was not there.
Objective and Subjective – It offers an objective approach of a historian and a subjective approach of a statesman. “The historian will say that there is a balance when the opposing groups seem to be equal in power. The statesman will say that there is a balance when he thinks that his side is stronger than the other. Hence nations which play the balance of power game seek not a balance, but an imbalance-in their favour.”
Sometimes, people identify balance of power as a policy.
The big powers play the Balance of Power game. Others use the small powers like weights in a balance.
Need of Balancing Power -To keep the balance, it requires a balancing power for the successful operation of the system.
