Methods, Ways, Modus operandi and Techniques of maintaining the balance of power in the global Politics

 Methods, Ways, Modus Operandi and Techniques for Maintaining the Balance of Power in the global Politic. 

In the present era of cooperation within confrontation, the balance of power is maintained through various strategies and mechanisms, reflecting the complexities of international relations. States enhance their military capabilities, economic strength, and technological advancements to counterbalance potential threats.  States form alliances, coalitions, or partnerships to aggregate power and counterbalance a threatening state or coalition. States uses economic, diplomatic, and institutional tools to constrain the behavior of a powerful state without direct military confrontation or soft balancing. States use military power and formal alliances to counter the power of a threatening state. A powerful state supports regional allies and partners to maintain the balance of power in different regions, rather than intervening directly is termed as offshore balancing. A state shifts the burden of balancing against a threatening power onto other states in the system. These types and mechanisms interact and evolve, shaping international relations and global governance. The balance of power is not a natural phenomenon and requires special efforts. Following are the ways, methods, techniques, modus operandi and devices for maintaining the balance of power, which countries adopt to maintain balance of power in the world and to live in peaceful coexistence.

1.                Alliances and Counter Alliances.

The most commonly used method or way of the maintaining balance of power system has been the creation of alliances since the emergence of state. Alliances or defense pacts have been the most expedient institutional method or device to increase states power.  States have always tried to make, abandon, and remake alliances depending upon their interests and circumstances. The various security alliances and pacts are clearly designed to enhance the military power against enemy. When a state feels that it cannot defend itself against another big state or group of states, it enters into alliance with another weak or powerful state for achieving its goal of preserving its sovereignty and existence. The offensive alliance seeks to upset the balance of power in favour of its members and a defensive alliance aims at restoring the balance. Alliances generally lead to counter alliance such as Triple Alliance (1882) and Triple Entente (1907). During 1910 to 1945 world witnessed arios alliance and counter alliances eventually resulted into world wars. After the end of world war 11 new ideologies and liberation movements emerged. In post second world war period, superpower entered into several alliances to counterbalance the growing ideologies and power of each other. NATO, CENTO and SEATO defense pacts forced the communist Russia to establish counter alliance COMECON and Warsaw Pact. In south Asia Pak entered western pact only to maintain balance of power and maintain its territorial integrity threatened from India. India signed defense pacts with USSR to maintain balance of power in South Asia. Some Arab countries went to western alliances while other sided with USSR. Following the fall of USSR and persistent expansion of NATO forced the Russia to form counter alliance SCO along with China and Central Asian Countries. The Russia and China has also admitted India, Iran and Pakistan in the SCO to resist the unilateralist policy of USA. USA is terming SCO as Asian Warsaw pact. The counter alliances play a major role in the preservation of the balance of power in the global system.

2.                          Compensation.

Compensation refers to the provisions of economic, social, or other forms of aid by a powerful state to weaker states that have been harmed or exploited by its actions. State makes, amends for past wrongs or injustices promote stability and cooperation, enhance reputation or influence.   Compensation of territorial nature was a common method for maintaining BOP in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth century. The victors of World War 1 were compensated by defeated countries, which proved harmful in future time. This type of forceful compensation became the cause of World War 11. This technique was discouraged at the insistence of President Wilson and following the end world war 11, and consequently totally abolished. At present, it has renamed as economic aid. During the cold war, both super powers committed unparallel cruelties in South East Asia, South America and Africa to gain control and defeat each other. After the end of Vietnam War, Korean War the United States realized the mistakes and situation rendered enormous economic and social aid to these countries to heal the wounds. The USA gave enormous aid to Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea and its people in various forms. Their relation normalized by compensation provided by USA. The US also gave enormous economic and social aid to the people of South America and allowed their people to settle in US. As we know that US is the largest contributor and donor of United Nations system, US poured economic aid to the countries of Africa and South America to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and helped other socio-economic fields. The support helped these countries to develop their country economically. The UN agencies did enormous work in these areas in different fields of life. In such way compensation is prevalent in one or other form.   

3.                          Partition.

Partition of countries or occupied territories has also been used as an instrument for the maintenance of BOP. The major powers divided the territory in such a way that there was no danger of any one of them acquiring a predominant position.  Poland was partitioned between Russia, Prussia and Austrian-Hungary in 1772, Korea, Yemen, Vietnam and Germany were divided so that BOP could be maintained. These countries were reunited when the super powers felt that BOP is achieved or people of respective countries desired to reunite.

4.                          Military Buildup, and Technological innovations. 

In the event of an impending danger from the enemy, every nation tries to maximize its power and resorts to building and stockpiling weapons or increase its military preparedness. Military preparedness is the best means of national defense.  No doubt, this policy is bound to lead to arms race between states. Armament race between superpowers during cold war maintained BOP. The states increase military spending to acquire sophisticated weapons systems through technological innovations.  These powers developed Nuclear weapons and advance technologies in Air and Sea forces to protect their countries in the event of attack. China through its military advancement and technology has become a potential power against the NATO. The power like US is not in position to attack China on any issue.  Israel through military buildup has come into position that it has defeated all Arabs countries and Iran. No doubt, it is openly and actively supported by the NATO countries but its inherent capability is also manifested during wars with Arab countries. Arabs due to military weakness, dependence on other countries are not in position to defeat Israel despite enormous resources. Acquisition of weapons from western countries maintained BOP between Pakistan and India in South Asia. Armament and disarmament can also restore BOP. 

5.                          Acquisition of territory.

Acquisition of fresh territory is also a method of BOP. The European Empires acquired forcibly territories of other countries all over the world. After the communist revolution in USSR it seized the territories of its neighbouring states and added to its own. The occupation of Arab territories by Israel is considered essential for its security and preservation of bop.

6.                          Intervention and war.

Intervention is a dictatorial interference in the internal affairs of another country by a powerful nation in order to extract some specific concessions. Many European countries intervened in the affairs of other Europeans states to maximize their interests. USA intervened in Central American countries, Middle East countries. USSR intervened in Afghanistan to maintain BOP in her favour. USA and its allies thought that BOP in region would shatter therefore must be restored by forcing USSR out of Afghanistan.  Iraq intervened and occupied Kuwait. The Arab countries felt threatened from the ulterior intentions of Saddam, implored USA to rescue them from the Iraq, and maintained the BOP between them.   The UN under the auspices of USA waged war and liberated it. Following the catastrophic event of 9/11, USA intervened, attacked Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq, and executed their leaders whom USA considered as a potential threat. Israel waged war against arab countries and Iran to maintain BOP in its favours. India attacked Pakistan following terrorist attacks but Pakistan retaliated and defeated India. Their war maintained BOP in the volatile region of South Asia. The Russia-Ukraine war is the continuation of maintaining BOP between NATO and Russia.

7.                          Divide and rule.

The imperialist powers have been pursuing the policy of divide and rule to maintain bop. During the cold war, both super powers tried to divide each other’s allies. Superpowers continued this policy of divide and rule with a view to bring maximum number of non-aligned states under their influence.  The USA had detached India from communist camp by providing civil nuclear deal and other financial benefits. The Russia and China are trying to bring under their influence by economic aid. This method is not contributing to great extent. 

8.                          Buffer states.

This is another technique for maintaining bop between two powerful states. Buffer states are of great importance because of their cushioning effect between major powers. The example of buffer states is Afghanistan, which acted as buffer state between Russia and British India.  The Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in 1979 destroyed the buffer state character of Afghanistan and posed a threat to the balance in the region. The Mongolia acted as buffer states between USSR and Communist China and detered them from attacking each other during ideological confrontation. Nepal and Bhutan is serving as a buffer state between India and China.

9.                          Nueutralisation.

Sometimes a country is neutralized to create a sort of buffer between two powerful countries and they pledge not to attack it or unnecessarily interfere in its affairs.

Prof Dr Qayum Mangi, Pricipal College of Superior Serices Sukkur Sindh

WISH YOU GOOD LUCK, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS.