Balance of Power : Theory and Practice in the 21st Century

since The 16th Century, Balance Of Power Politics Have Profoundly Influenced International Relations. But In Recent Years—with The Sudden Disappearance Of The Soviet Union, Growing Power Of The United States, And Increasing Prominence Of International Institutions—many Scholars Have Argued That Balance Of Power Theory Is Losing Its Relevance. This Book Examines The Current Position And Future Of Balance Of Power Dynamics In International Politics. in This Book, Prominent Scholars Pay Special Attention To The Theoretical And Historical Criticisms Of Balance Of Power Theory While Empirically Assessing Its Validity At Both Global And Regional Levels. The Volume Also Looks At Systemic Factors Favoring Or Hindering A Return To Balance Of Power Politics. It Evaluates The Challenges Posed By Subnational Actors, Such As Terrorist Groups, And Weapons Of Mass Destruction To International Order. Further, It Examines The Relevance Of Balance Of Power Axioms In Selected Regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia, And Latin America. foreign Affairs the Balance Of Power Is One Of The Oldest And Most Enduring Concepts Of International Relations. In A World Of Powerful And Threatening States, It Is Often The Only Dependable Strategy. It Is Surprising, Therefore, That Since The End Of The Cold War, The Dynamics Of Power Balancing Have Been All But Absent: The Great Powers Have Not Formed Counterbalancing Coalitions To Guard Against U.s. Predominance And Are Unlikely To Anytime Soon. This Book, Which Brings Together Leading International Security Experts To Assess The Current Status Of Balance-of-power Theory, Confirms The Peculiarity Of Today's International System. The Authors Do Not Settle The Debate About Why This Is So-whether The Cause Is Nuclear Weapons, Economic Interdependence, Democratic Peace, Or The Relatively Benign Character Of U.s. Hegemony. Jack Levy Argues That Balance-of-power Theory Emerged To Explain European Dynamics But Never Claimed Universal Validity. Robert Ross Argues That China Is Pursuing An Indirect Form Of Balancing Through Internal Mobilization But May Never Be In A Position To Build A True Anti-u.s. Coalition. The Editors Conclude That States Are Pursuing An Array Of Security Strategies, Including Soft Balancing, In Today's Unipolar World. But The Logic And Stability Of This New Situation Remain Unclear. Since The Sudden Disappearance Of The Soviet Union, Many Scholars Have Argued That The Balance Of Power Theory Is Losing Its Relevance. This Text Examines This Viewpoint, As Well As Looking At Systematic Factors That May Hinder Or Favour The Return Of Balance Of Power Politics. The Enduring Axioms Of Balance Of Power Theory And Their Contemporary Relevance / T.v. Paul -- What Do The Great Powers Balance Against And When? / Jack S. Levy -- Great Powers In The Post-cold War World: A Power Transition Perspective / Douglas Lemke -- The Political Economy Of Balance Of Power Theory / Mark R. Brawley -- The War On Terrorism And The Balance Of Power: The Paradoxes Of American Hegemony / Christopher Layne -- The Balance Of Power Paradox / James J. Wirtz -- A World Not In Balance: War, Politics, And Weapons Of Mass Destruction / Edward Rhodes -- Europe Hedges Its Security Bets / Robert J. Art -- Revisiting Balance Of Power Theory In Central Eurasia / William C. Wohlforth -- The International System And Regional Balance In The Middle East / Benjamin Miller -- Bipolarity And Balancing In East Asia / Robert S. Ross -- The South Asian Security Balance In A Western Dominant World / Raju G.c. Thomas -- Regime Type And Regional Security In Latin America: Toward A 'balance Of Identity' Theory / Michael Barletta And Harold Trinkunas -- Balance Of Power At The Turn Of The New Century Michel Fortmann, T.v. Paul, And James J. Wirtz. Edited By T.v. Paul, James J. Wirtz, And Michel Fortmann. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Everywhere one turns today, the behavior of states, non-state actors, and even individuals appears to challenge traditional conceptions of balance of power theory.