2. INTRODUCTION IT IS A CENTRAL CONCEPT IN NEOREALIST THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. IT IS A PART AND PARCEL OF SYSTEM OF POWER POLITICS IT EXPRESSES THE DOCTRINE INTENDED TO PREVENT ANY ONE NATION FROM BECOMING SUFFICIENTLY STRONG SO AS TO ENABLE IT TO ENFORCE ITS WILL UPON THE REST
3. ORIGIN POST-MEDIEVAL EUROPE AMONG THE ITALIAN CITY STATES IN THE 15TH CENTURY TREATY OF UTRECHT IN 1713 PEACE OF WESTPHALIA 1648 CONGRESS OF VIENNA 1814
4. ENGLAND AND BALANCE OF POWER In the 16th century England came to pursue a foreign policy which would preserve the equilibrium between Spain and France, which evolved in to balance of power policy. England adopted the balance of power as “a corner stone of England policy”, thus represent the only plane of preserving her own independence, political power and economical strength
8. FUNCTIONS OF BOP Multiple states can form a balance of power when alliances are fluid Two states can balance against each other by matching their increases in military capability
