Balance of Power in International Relations

Balance of Power in International Relations

1.      Definition and Explanation

“Balance of Power is such a system in which some nations regulate their power relations without any interference by any big power. As such it is a decentralized system in which power and policies remain in the hands of constituting units.” —Inis Claude. States can follow the policy of balance of power by two means: (i) either by mounting their own power (engaging in armaments or acquisition of territory; (ii) or by allaying with great super powers so that enemy dare not to attack.

2.      Nature of balance of power (according to Palmer and Perkins)

a.       Balance of power sometimes brings Equilibrium and on other is disturb the existing geopolitical system and create imbalance in that system

b.      Balance of power is temporary and unstable in nature. The power balance may be disappear after the opponents’ downfall or reduction in power

c.       Balance of power is not a god gifted thing. It is achieved through active participation of actor (nation state) and leaders.

d.      Balance of power always favors the super powers who tried to maintain their status quo by attaining power over its adversaries. These big powers determine the direction, extent, and potential of power balance in the world.

e.       Balance of power is testing through war and disputes. It favors realist school of thought in this regard. Peace in the world through deterrence only is the core of this concept

f.       Multi-polarity of world is the favor of balance of power. When there is struggle among nations to attain benefits over other then the chances to get more powerful weapons increase which favor balance of power. It means national interests of a state can be fulfilled by attaining a power balance over other states.

3.      Major assumptions and postulates of balance of power

a.       When there are chances of threat of national interests particularly vital interest of a state, then balance of power is necessary to counter the adversaries for these interests.

b.      Balance of power varies from situation to situation and demands of states. when the chances of deterrence or threat minimized then states change its strategies. Even when the global power shifting also effect this power balance

c.       Balance of power change before and after the war, battle or disputes. As during WW two both the communists and allied powers unanimously counter the threat of Hitler’s axis power but after this war the balance of power changes into bipolar world.

4.      Methods of attaining balance of power

a.       Compensation: means geographical division of opponent into several units so that its unified integrated force will not be a problem in future. As Germany was divided into several small units or given its land to neighboring countries. Similarly the division of Ottoman Empire after WW is another example.

b.      Alliances and Counter alliances: strong alliance becomes the cause of strong defense and deterrence of opponent. For example during WW one, the central powers vs allied powers, similarly in WW two allied powers vs Axis Powers were alliance and counter alliance during these both catastrophic total wars. Same in the case of cold war when NATO and WARAW Pact were against each other in order to balance the power in world. In current scenario Indo US Nexus is countered by Pakistan’s deeply involvement in Islamic Military Alliance and ally with China.

c.       Divide and Rule: In this strategy of gaining power benefits over its opponents, divide the land into weaker zones and rule them. The chances of disputes are always there and to hold a disputed territory among them is their benefit. As Kashmir as a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. Similarly the division of Arab nations and divide them into different ideologies and rule them all on various basis.

d.      Creation of Buffer Zones or Buffer State: buffer zone is a territory or state created between two or more opponents in order to avoid direct conflict between them. This may be act like a passage or pathway for super powers to reach beyond that area for natural resources or any kind of geopolitical or geostrategic benefits.

e.       Armaments and Disarmament: Global Super powers since WW one on the one hand tried to disarmament from the world in order to avoid more future wars like WW1, but on the other hand accumulation of more and more weapons even WMD for the purpose of deterrence of weak nations and does not allow them to build such catastrophic weapons. In this way both armaments and disarmament as a tool is used to gain influxes in international power struggle.

f.       Intervention: balance of power can be attained by direct and indirect intervention in states’ internal and external affairs by either means. Propaganda, mass media warfare, civil war funding, encourage the elements of disintegration of society etc.

5.      Critical analysis of balance of power

a.       Arguments in favor

                                                  i.      It is used as source of power management, peace and stability in international political system. Nations less likely go to war in such environment.

                                                ii.      It is a source of preservation of interests of weak nations by either power of the world because of the involvement of super powers.

                                              iii.      It encourages the Multipolarity of world which give rise to options of many states to join any power for their national interests.

b.      Arguments against

                                                  i.      There are chances of misuse of power because of leadership, accidents or any other non state actors can get benefit from this unlimited power struggle. This means the chances of peace diminishes or minimized.

                                                ii.      Each state in the world desire to attain more power which disturbs the equilibrium in international relations. Even this push the states to enter into endless power struggle and weapon race.

                                              iii.      As the test of balance of power is show in war, or conflicts, then how it bring peace if war occur.

                                              iv.      There is myth in international relations that equal power of states is acceptable. States do not show its actual power. Each state kept is real strength secrets and time tested device prove its power. “Unmanaged struggle for power can be a source of war in international relations.” Hans. J. Morgenthau

6.      Contemporary issues in global politics and application of concept of balance of power.

                                                  i.      In current scenario world politics has been changed. Even though the ways, strategies to attain national interests is totally different from history. Following factors are contributing in the change of this shift;

1.      Rise of other powers and declining influence of Europe as a dominant global power which resulted into shift of power balance form traditional powers to new Asian powers.

2.      Emergence of new methods of attaining national Interests

3.      Increase in civilization consciousness due to massive media, globalization and internationalization

4.      More weapons of mass destruction has been emerged which may not give chance to survive the humanity to think about anything if utilized.

5.      Disappearance of balancer and emergence of new regional balancer and counter balancer

6.      End of era of colonialism and emergence of new form of colonialism.