balanceofpower

Balance of power is a structural concept in international relations describing a distribution of power among states that aims to prevent any one actor from dominating others. It rests on the assumption that states seek security and influence, and that power can be pooled or countered through alliances and balancing behaviors; deterrence is a key mechanism.

Internal balancing involves expanding military and economic capabilities; external balancing relies on forming alliances or aligning with other states to counter a rising power. In multipolar or bipolar systems, balancing can manifest as counterweights to gains of a hegemon or as bandwagoning when states choose to align with a stronger power. Historical examples include the Concert of Europe, the Cold War US–Soviet balance, and subsequent multipolar arrangements.

Critics argue that power is not the sole driver, with economic interdependence and international institutions shaping outcomes. Variants include soft balancing, which uses diplomacy and economic tools rather than military counterweights, and bandwagoning, where states align with rising powers. The concept remains central to realist and neorealist analyses but interacts with liberal and constructivist explanations. The debate continues over its applicability in an increasingly interconnected world.