The balance of Power

Running head: The balance of Power in the World The balance of Power in the World Nurul Ain Farhana binti Mohd Rizduan. (G1720822) Foreign Policies of the Major Power (PSCI 6401) Prof. Dr. El Fatih Abdillahi Abdelsalam Semester 1 2018/2019 Department of Political Science Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia Submission on 16 October 2018 1|P age The balance of Power in the World Question: level, In considering which different distributing power types of polarity will ensure at the International international peace and order? And why it happens? Power is dreams and interest of an individual or states. Power defined as a force that moves things from one point or state to another state. Power also could allow us to get what we want and to prevent what we do not want. The holding or obtaining of power can make the state conquer another state. Today, we could see each nation competing each other’s to get known, scared and recognized as the most hegemony and super power of the world. As we could see, the conquering of strong or hegemony not only in aspects military power but economic also oppressing the weak state. They sectors, influencing the foreign policy and also also will interfere interfering the in state matters in one state in the name of helping and maintain the peace of the world. According to Welter (1988), power is defined as international actors deal with one another and the achieving influence over other actors and how the rational use of power can shape the outcome of maintaining or improve the actors’ satisfaction and achieve of the objectives of national interest. The division ownership of power known as polarity and there are types of polarity system identified According to Paul, cited from inter-system that means it that implies cannot in which are unipolar, bipolar and few multipolar. Monteiro (2011), unipolar system is defined as existing states completely control that the constrained others states. by anarchy, He also which suggesting 2|P age The balance of Power in the World that obstructs unipolarity international system’s usual tendency toward s power balancing. To continue with, the bipolar and multipolar were describing as the same basis, which are both of the system did not hold predominate power by one state. Therefore, these systems categorize as tool to balancing the The states bipolar allying with system either reflects of the two two dominant super powers. So with less that, power. powerful states bipolarity allows two states to control conflict in the international system of order such as happen in Cold War between Soviet Union and United States of America. On the other hands, multipolar system reflect many equal powerful states vying the power and differ with bipolar system because the states can change their relationship through other states without gaining or losing power. The multipolar system has been known since the time period of World War I. However, he emphasizing that unipolar is differs with hegemonic state because hegemonic state is able to control the foreign policy of other states. In viewing system, the polarity that of balancing practice the distribution power by would many of power be achieve state in in international through exercising a organization few power. types Some of idea suggesting that unipolar is the best polarity system to maintain the balance of power without share any power because only one state will be the most super power and influence Richard (2007), also shadow quoting from Pape all the in his foreign book policy of the suggesting that world. the For balancing 3|P age The balance of Power in the World of power is hard to achieve so that the soft power much easier to bring off. For him, unipolar alliances. system However, will soft involve power hard only power in involves formation of international military institutions, economic statecraft and diplomatic initiatives. On the multipolar, that other which would hands, allow maintain the the the idea power balancing of power exercise of sharing by power. one using or James the more (1998) bipolar state, or believed emphasizing that the sharing of power sharing equally will avoid the misuse of power because the state holder will have guidelines about the limits of the power he share with other nations and prevention from use power unethically. He stressing that the power share will make the exercising of power more effectives. him, power expensive, positives sharing is abundant tools in not and part of generous. giving decision Not opportunities only for to use that, our power power in sharing power to exercised instead of using For more view and as release power that have been blocked before. Furthermore, in sharing of power, the multipolar system, which the power exercise by many states as we could see in World War II, the bipolarity acknowledge as the best polarity system to maintain the international peace of the world. In this system, power only share among two powerful nations as we could see after World War between Soviet Union and United State of America. differ on view international power system as This argument sharing to quoting from supported by maintain the the Waltz’s Richard (2007) balance theory of power that have in shows a the why 4|P age The balance of Power in the World bipolarity is more stable from multipolarity. It is because the bipolar system will rely on two state rely solely on their own resources to survive and if one state starts to increase expenditure on armaments and the others state wishes to ensure that it can survive the future, the it has no alternative but to follow suit. The example we could see as Soviet Union keep pace with United State of America, both keep maintaining their power and no one could expend or misuse due to the equal power. The balancing of power believes will contribute the stability and maintain the international peace and security of the nation state. It is because the leader of the state would not have problem to competing with others state to increase proliferation was their beside approaching through his national security stratification the concept pluralism world of such power. of view. as military According Utopia in He was power to global Merriam scale suggesting of of that nuclear (1975), world the he politics world as warless will be successful with the implementation of the balance of power or it other way, power sharing. It is because the statesman would not competing and challenging the others’ state. He also was suggesting that the teaching of civic education to the state holder will ensure the state man to avoiding war and greediness nations. Besides, to the become states the could hegemony share power their by ideas, conquering technology, the other interest and power among other states because they did not have the interest to competing to each other’s to become the most powerful. Merriam have very nice ideas 5|P age The balance of Power in the World to ensure the peace of international peace even though it looked like impossible to implement in the real world. To add, this argument was support by James (1998), by introducing the concept power sharing as the tools of maintain the power politics. In his book, he suggests three goals to have power. state He emphasizing distribute the the power balance equally the balance of to power create an of power by sharing the could be achieved exceptional when environment the when people are free to exchange the power and that dormant in the right times and places. To of conclude, polarity power. in In because multipolar or scholars maintaining my for many opinion, me, this I agree system different international system bipolar have with peace the ideas and in balance unipolarity will avoid conflict because the exercising viewing power as of the the world system. compared power types more It is with the than one nation will lead to the competition to be the most powerful hegemonic power. In addition, the unipolar system also will maintain the international security and order because it is nature the leader should be one person or only one state because it will the other state will have the only main reference about any aspects such as foreign policy, international economic and etc. Thus, the main power will terms for of consultation example the in decision Abbasid making. Caliphate influence the Throughout system security become history, the and military, other nations in we most could see powerful 6|P age The balance of Power in the World government across the world. This state later becomes the references in all aspect of technology, education, military, civilization, economy and etc. However, this unipolar system consequences of unipolar system because the monitors, condemn conquering unipolar strongest other power state or state of bullying them. in system which are will stop also It will led weak state make resources the own flaws. The will led to the misuse will natural has the for powerful with one of power anyone could unipolarity examples. state able obvious will led Besides, to do to the unlimited action without any fear. For all the reading and my research regarding on this topic, what I could say is in maintaining the international peace and order; there is any of the polarity system that I could generalize as the best types of polarities We system only could to practice make in maintaining assumptions and the prediction international through the peace and order. historical events happened in world politics that happen before. It is depend to reader to decide what the best is. References. Lucas. J. R. (1998), Balance of Power., New York, United State of America: Amacon American Management Association. Little. R. Metaphors, (2007). Myths The and Balance Models. of Power United in Kingdom: International Relations, Cambridge University Press. 7|P age The balance of Power in the World Jones. W. S. (1988). The Logic of International Relation. The Sixth Edition. Scott, Foresman and Company. Glenview, Illinois Boston: London. Fox. W. T. R. (1975), The Pluralism, The Science of Politics and the World World System, Cambridge Politics, Vol. University 27, No. 4 Press. (Jul., 1975), Retrieved pp. from 597-611, website http://www.jstor.org/stable/2010016 Crawford. C., (1988), Balance of Power, The 1990 United Edition. State of America: Mindscape Inc. Mansfield. E. Trade, D., (1992). International 731-764, The Concentration Vol. Organization. The MIT of 46, Press. Capabilities No.3 and (Summer, Retrieved International 1992), from pp. website http://www.jstor.org/stable/2706994 Kim W. K., (2012), System Polarities and Alliances Politics. University of Iowa. Retrieved from website http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/3482 Haas. M., American (1970). International Political Science Subsystem Review. Vol. : 64, Stability No 1 and (March Polarity, 1970), pp The 98- 123. 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