Political Science.

Political Science
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1
Introduction
The paper will demonstrate the factors where the present geopolitical dynamics among
the great powers reflects the balance of power in operation. It will discuss how current
geographical dynamics is balanced by different power of theories. Balance of power maintains
stability among competing forces that refers to equilibrium between alliances or countries. It will
present the argument of the theories based on current geopolitical dynamics along with
examples. The paper aims to discuss current geopolitical dynamics that helps to maintain balance
of power in operations.
Current geopolitical dynamics reflects the balance of power of theories
The factors that are included in geopolitics involves significant relations among the
geographical element, space, interests focused within an area and international political actors.
All these factors create a geographical system in a country. It has been observed that the current
geopolitical dynamics reflects the balance of power of theories1. It is because the theories help in
maintaining equilibrium among alliances or countries to protect any single entity from gaining
too much ability to become strong2. If a state becomes much stronger as compared to others than
as per the theory the stronger state would take advantage of its power and attack weaker
neighbours. In maintaining international relations the most influential theoretical idea is
considered to be a balance of power. Hence, for most of the international politics, the balance of
power has attracted most of the scholarly effort. Balance of power is considered to be significant
as it is a system in which peace could be maintained between large numbers of states. For
example, during the league held between Persians and Greeks, the league served as a successful
1 William C, Wohlforth., Richard Little., Stuart J. Kaufman., David Kang., Charles A. Jones.,
Victoria Tin-Bor Hui., Arthur Eckstein., Daniel Deudney., and William L. Brenner. "Testing
balance-of-power theory in world history." European Journal of International Relations 13, no. 2,
2007.
2 Gi-Wook, Shin., Hilary Izatt., and Rennie J. Moon. "Asymmetry of power and attention in
alliance politics: the US–Republic of Korea case." Australian Journal of International Affairs 70, no. 3,
2016.
2

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balance against Persians. Thus, from the middle of the century the relations between Persians and
Greeks were essentially stabilized and peaceful.
The security dilemma is also regarded as one of the significant theoretical concepts that
are based on international relations that is reflected by current geopolitical dynamics. The theory
understands the implications, regulations and underlying causes of the security dilemma. It is
determined to be a defensive realism of theoretical linchpin which makes genuine cooperation
possible among the states3. It has been argued by neoliberal scholars and liberals that security
dilemma is alleviated by the functions of international institutions. The broader spiral model and
the security dilemma together form a strong theory of peace and war through the process of
communication. For example, the broader spiral model and security dilemma theory have been
deployed for prescribing policies for most of the significant challenges in international politics
that includes avoiding possible conflict, designing a lasting peace to ethnic conflicts and
managing arms races between the United States and China.
Based on the theory of security dilemma it is observed that major war has been
established in the nuclear age that has incorporated the significance of inadvertent war and Cold
War spiraling. The section of systematic theory argues that any of the theories of international
relations wants to describe the changes based on the nuclear war must take relevant actions to
adopt the changes that takes place. In the modern age of international missiles, the systematic
theories of peace and Great War are still relevant that demonstrates the threat of thermonuclear
war4. For example, the United States or China is hoping to launch a major war against the great
powers that occured in 1914, 1939 and 1941. In order to explain the fact that the theories are
relevant to be utilized in the modern era, it is significant to expalin the importance of shifting of
state from cooperation towards hard-line policies. This would help in developing foundation to
choose war instead of peace in the larger paradigm.
Moreover, in the current geopolitical dynamics, the deductive theory helps in the
formation of an alliance in a multipolar system. Alliance formation facilitates various security
3 Shiping, Tang. "The security dilemma: A conceptual analysis." Security studies 18, no. 3, 2009.
4 Dale C, Copeland. "Systemic Theory and the Future of Great Power War and Peace." The
Oxford Handbook of International Security, 2018.

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benefits that lead to an increase in security from the commitment of the partners5. The cost and
benefits are measured as per autonomy and security enjoyed between the alignment partners.
Most of the security benefit alliance comprise of deployment and planning that reduces the cost
of potential war and peacetime armaments. However, the alliances related to the cost and benefit
are not involved directly either with autonomy or security. For example, on unrelated matters,
the allies will provide side payments to their mutual defense commitments6. The commitments
are based on supporting diplomatic partner or free hand in some colonial venture. Therefore, it
becomes possible for the state to gain satisfaction by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of
international relations.
Paradoxically, when a weak ally lack influence due to its dependence but gains influence
due to its essentiality and vulnerability. At that time it is said that strong alliance is made
between the states. A best example of such paradox is the alliance between Australia and German
which is known as Austro-German alliance7. Based on the factor of dependence, the bargaining
power of Germany was superior. However, most of the time Austria was able to gain
considerable autonomy while capturing leadership of the alliance as it knew that Germany would
have to support it during serious crisis. Further, the bargaining power of Austria was enhanced
due to its ability to create a credible threat of nonsupport as per relative self-sufficiency of
Germany. Thus, the theory plays a significant role in reducing the conflicts that help in alliance
formation of the states8. The theory derives overbalancing and opposite phenomenon where a
country supports their allies unconditionally.
5 Federico, Merke. "Neither balance nor bandwagon: South American international society meets
Brazil’s rising power." International Politics 52, no. 2, 2015.
6 Joseph, Berger., Dana P. Eyre., and Morris Zelditch. "Theoretical structures and the micro-
macro problem." In Status, Power, and Legitimacy, Routledge, 2018.
7 Yasuhiro, Izumikawa. "Binding Strategies in Alliance Politics: The Soviet-Japanese-US
Diplomatic Tug of War in the Mid-1950s." International Studies Quarterly 62, no. 1, 2018.
8 Dominic, Tierney. "Does chain-ganging cause the outbreak of war?." International Studies
Quarterly 55, no. 2, 2011.

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Conclusion
The paper demonstrated the fact about current geopolitical dynamics that reflects the
balance of power of theories. It provides with the significance of the power of theories to
maintain international relations with the states. It has been observed that the balance of power is
a significant theoretical concept that presents the relationship with international institutions
systematically. The theories presented the problems of uncertainty, endemic impediments at the
domestic level and collective action that balances the power of theories. The primary focus of the
paper was to highlight the causes of balance that is applied across time and space.

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References
Berger, Joseph, Dana P. Eyre, and Morris Zelditch. "Theoretical structures and the micro-macro
problem." In Status, Power, and Legitimacy, pp. 55-70. Routledge, 2018.
Copeland, Dale C. "Systemic Theory and the Future of Great Power War and Peace." The
Oxford Handbook of International Security (2018): 211.
Izumikawa, Yasuhiro. "Binding Strategies in Alliance Politics: The Soviet-Japanese-US
Diplomatic Tug of War in the Mid-1950s." International Studies Quarterly 62, no. 1
(2018): 108-120.
Merke, Federico. "Neither balance nor bandwagon: South American international society meets
Brazil’s rising power." International Politics 52, no. 2 (2015): 178-192.
Shin, Gi-Wook, Hilary Izatt, and Rennie J. Moon. "Asymmetry of power and attention in
alliance politics: the US–Republic of Korea case." Australian Journal of International
Affairs 70, no. 3 (2016): 235-255.
Tang, Shiping. "The security dilemma: A conceptual analysis." Security studies 18, no. 3 (2009):
587-623.
Tierney, Dominic. "Does chain-ganging cause the outbreak of war?." International Studies
Quarterly 55, no. 2 (2011): 285-304.
Wohlforth, William C., Richard Little, Stuart J. Kaufman, David Kang, Charles A. Jones,
Victoria Tin-Bor Hui, Arthur Eckstein, Daniel Deudney, and William L. Brenner.
"Testing balance-of-power theory in world history." European Journal of International
Relations 13, no. 2 (2007): 155-185.