Balance of power is the most influential theoretical idea in international relations. Balance of power theory in the world wars came from the multipolar world. According to Waltz's (2000: 55–6), friends and enemies tend to react to threats or predominance among themselves by working towards righting the balance. This Bipolar distribution of power behavior leads to competition of the states to acquire some form of equilibrium. The theory assumes that problems of collective action, uncertainty, and endemic domestic-level impediments in balancing can be overcome. The motive of survival of the states leads them to do anything that will tackle these barriers resulting into a balance. The world wars balance of power can be explained in terms of ideological confrontation, nuclear arms race, divided Europe and proxy conflicts. In international relations, the policy of the state protecting itself from the other is done by matching its power with the other side. This can be accomplished by stepping up their power or forming alliances.
Balance of power was a significant force to the start of the world wars. The First World War was a conflict between the central powers and the Allied powers. The Allied powers consisted of France, United Kingdom, Serbia, and Montenegro. The central powers included Germany, Bulgaria, and Austria-Hungary. The conflict involved 32 countries, 28 of which supported the Allies. The outbreak of the 1914 war was caused by the Schlieffen plan. The Germans were fighting for supremacy worldwide; this caused opposition among the various states.
[...] Britain settled its conflicts with France and Russia to form the Triple Entente cooperation, due to alarming. To acquire total control of territories ad power, the states increased their constructive capacity in terms of administration. They wanted to administer the conquered state in terms of their future expansion plans. This balance of power led states, which started conquering, had to continue conquering to else gain full control of their territory. The individual need and aspiration became everyone's aspiration. This led to states fighting the others in the world war to enable them to gain total control of a larger part of the globe systems. [...]
[...] Significance of Balance of Power- International Relations Balance of power is the most influential theoretical idea in international relations. Balance of power theory in the world wars came from the multipolar world. According to Waltz's (2000: friends and enemies tend to react to threats or predominance among themselves by working towards righting the balance. This Bipolar distribution of power behavior leads to competition of the states to acquire some form of equilibrium. The theory assumes that problems of collective action, uncertainty, and endemic domestic-level impediments in balancing can be overcome. [...]
[...] France formed an alliance with Russia in 1894. In 1904, France made a promise to work together in an agreement called the Entente Cordiale. The Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Russia) was made in 1907 by Britain joining Russia. These alliances played a major role to the start of the world wars. The politicians of 1914 thought that keeping peace required them to act as a deterrent to nation thinking of laying an attack on them. The politicians believed that peace would be achieved by acquiring a balance of the alliance blocks. [...]
[...] S. (1996). International relations. New York, NY, HarperCollins College Publishers. LAWSON, S. (2003). International relations. Cambridge, UK, Polity. ROSECRANCE, R. N. (1974). Power, balance of power, and status in the nineteenth-century international relations. Beverly Hills, Calif, Sage Publications. [...]
[...] This resulted into a change of power criteria. There was an increase in importance of submarines, aircrafts, army and navy power, battleships, troop mobility. The military build up only have been achieved by engaging in an arms race. This involved learning the neighbor's tactics and working better than them. The affairs of the state are dynamic; they go through enormous changes in terms of power of influence, strength and weakness, and changes in foreign relations. Systems of political and military balance were developed, this was aimed at maintaining peace and international order. [...]
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