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PS 321: International Politics The Balance of Power

PS 321: International Politics The Balance of Power. September 21, 2012. Defining the Balance of Power. The BoP can be defined in three ways: As a Distribution : Describes who has how much power. Is the world U nipolar ? Bipolar ? Multipolar ?

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PS 321: International Politics The Balance of Power

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  1. PS 321: International PoliticsThe Balance of Power September 21, 2012

  2. Defining the Balance of Power The BoP can be defined in three ways: • As a Distribution: Describes who has how much power. Is the world Unipolar? Bipolar? Multipolar? • As a Policy: States deliberately seek to create a system in which power is balanced equally, in the belief that such a system will be stable. • As a Theory: States will create alliances in such a way that power is usually balanced. They will usually Balance, but sometimes Bandwagon.

  3. Phases of the BoP The BoP can be divided in 5 phases: • Post-Westphalia (1648-1815) • Concert of Europe (1815-1854) • Rise of Nationalism (1854-1871) • Bismarck’s System (1871-1907) • Bipolar Alliances (1907-1914)

  4. Post Westphalia (1648-1815) • Ad hoc/Laissex Faire Balance of power • States act based on self-interest to gain territory and/or check the rise of rivals’ power • No deliberate or cooperative effort to enforce balance • Ends in failure to check rise of Napoleon (everybody cheats!)

  5. Concert of Europe (1815-1854) • Deliberate system beginning at Congress of Vienna to create and maintain a balance of power (BoP as a POLICY) • 5 great powers: Britain, France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria • Slice and Dice Europe to make it so that all 5 powers are equal in strength • Agree to meet regularly to ensure balance is maintained (Institutions!)

  6. Rise of Nationalism (1854-1971) • Liberal beliefs in Europe cause it to withdraw from active participation in concert • Rise of nationalism in Austrian territories sparks movements for Self-Determination • Desire for unity among German and Italian speaking peoples leads to Irredentism • Weakening of Austria and rise of Germany disrupts the Balance!

  7. Bismarckian System 1871-1907 • Germany rising in power due to unification and industrial revolution • Bismarck realizes this poses a threat; encourages Kaiser to limit his ambitions • Bismarck conducts careful and secretive diplomacy to prevent other states from allying against Germany • But German nationalism too great: Kaiser fires Bismarck, pursues colonialism and naval build-up

  8. Causes of WWI • Individual Level • State Level • Systemic Level

  9. WWI : Individual Level • Diplomacy of Bismarck…and his firing • Greed of Kaiser Wilhelm (poor leaders all around) • Human nature makes war inevitable

  10. WWI: State Level • Nationalism makes war politically palatable • Lack of Democratic restraints in Germany, Austria, Russia • Internal conflicts in Austria and Ottoman Empire • Political diversion in Germany

  11. WWI: Systemic Level • Rise of German Power (Realist) • Rigid Bipolar Alliances (Realist) • Glorification of War (Constructivist) • Lack of Interdependence (?) (Liberal) • Lack of Institutions (Liberal)

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