Balance of Power Theory

IB Global PoliticsUWC Costa Rica

Key PointNational security is strengthened when military capability is

distributed so that no single state can dominate

all others

Balance of Power Theory

is a realist theory

Key assumptions of realist theories

• International order is anarchic

• Primary goal of all actors is survival

• Power is relative

What happens if one state becomes stronger?

According to Balance of Power Theory, that state will take advantage of its strength and attack weaker neighbours

This provides an incentive for those threatened to join each other in a defensive coalition

How might states counter an external threat?

• When faced with an external threat from a more powerful state, states have several options:– Balancing– Bandwagoning– Buck-passing– Blood-letting

BalancingBalancing encompasses the actions that a particular state or group of states take in order to equalise the odds against more powerful states

(make it more difficult and hence less likely for powerful states to exert their military advantage over the weaker ones)

Two types of balancingInternal Balancing

• Internal balancing involves efforts to enhance state's power by increasing one's economic resources and military strength in order to be able to rely on independent capabilities in response to a potential hegemon and be able to compete more effectively in the international system

External Balancing

• External balancing involves strengthening and enlarging one's alliances and interstate cooperation in order to prevent a hegemon or counter a rising power.

BandwagoningA state aligns with a stronger, adversarial power and concedes that the stronger adversary-turned-partner disproportionately gains in the spoils they conquer together

Question: Why would a state choose to bandwagon instead of balance?

Buck-passing• Instead of balancing against an

aggressor, some states instead choose to "pass the buck" whereby instead of taking action to prevent a potential hegemon's rise, it will pass the responsibility on to another state

• Mearsheimer argues there are 4 strategies states can use to facilitate buck passing

One:• Seeking good diplomatic relations

with the aggressor in the hope that it will divert its attention to the "buck-catcher”

Two:• maintaining cool relations with the

buck-catcher so as not to get dragged into the war with the buck-catcher and as a result possibly increase positive relations with the aggressor

Three:• increasing military strength to deter

the aggressive state and help it focus on the buck-catcher

Four:• facilitating the growth in power of the

intended buck-catcher

Blood-lettingIf a state is an enemy with both the aggressor and the intended buck-catcher, a buck-passer can implement a bait and bleed strategy whereby the state causes two rivals to engage in a protracted war while the baiter remains on the sideline.

Bloodletting, a further variant whereby a state does what it can to increase the cost duration of the conflict can further increase the buck-passer’s relative power

Question: Why might states prefer bloodletting and buck passing to balancing?