Balance of Power: Thucydides and Origins

• The presentation discusses the origins and early development of the Balance of Power (BoP) concept.

Thucydides

• BoP thinking originates from the Peloponnesian War and led to the growth of Athenian power and fear in Sparta.
• Thucydides described a "general law" of IR dynamics where uneven power growth among states drives IR, leading to the theory of hegemonic war.
• Fundamental changes in the international system determine such conflicts.
• A stable system allows changes only if they do not threaten the vital interests of dominant states, maintaining a hierarchy with a hegemonic power.
• Economic, technological, or other changes can destabilize the system, eroding the position of the hegemonic state and precipitating war, ultimately leading to a new international structure.
• Three fundamental passions: interest, pride, and fear, drive human nature.
• Humans seek wealth and power until stopped, driven by their passions.
• Humans do not listen to reason and remain slaves to their passions.
• Technological advancements intensify conflict, with uncontrollable passions generating significant conflicts repeatedly.

Hegemonic War Course

• Initial phase consists of a stable IntSys characterized by a hierarchical ordering of States.
• Over time, a subordinate State grows disproportionately, leading to conflict with the hegemonic power.
• Struggle leads to bipolarization in the system and eventually to hegemonic war.
• The resolution involves a new international system reflecting the redistribution of power.

Rise of Athenian Power

• Geographical and demographic factors meant freedom from conflict, victims of war sought refuge in Athens, increasing its population, colonies, and commerce.
• Economic and technological mastery of naval power facilitated commerce expansion, concentrating economic and military power, and creating alliances.
• Political factors include rise of the Athenian empire at the end of the Persian wars.

Precursors to Peloponnesian War

• In 433BC, a crisis emerges between Corcyra and Corinth.
• Corinth had the third largest navy and was a spartan ally.
• Corcyra had teh second largest navy.

Renaissance Period

• In the Post-Roman Era, the absence of a balance of power.
• The feudal Middle Ages were not characterized by a state system.
• Commynes noted how in 1500s Europe, the power of states being balanced by neighbours.
• Bordering states were concerned about immediate neighbours, but it was NOT a balance of power.
• In late 15th century Italy, five powerful city-states prevented it from being dominated by any one power.
• State support of the power they are less afraid of against the power of which they are more afraid of.
• Leading proponent of balancing policies?
• Venice, Milan, Florence, Naples, and the Papal States characterized Italy's 1480s "Golden Age".
• Venice held most power and were aggressive.
• The triple Alliance of Florence, Milan and Naples balanced power.
• Machiavelli described in 'in un certo modo bilanciata', meaning in some way balanced.
• Machiavelli viewed the state as a moral entity with citizen loyalty and rights.
• The State was defined by both internal workings and relationships with other States, forming an international order with structure.
• There was no real BoP thinking, as a state would help the stronger side.
• The FP of Florence and Naples maintains balance and system of forces.
• The Alliance was designed to keep down the power of the Venetians, who were without question superior to any of the confederates separately, but not able to cope with them when united.
• "States" watched each other to prevent any single state from dominating.
• Gentilli – De Jure Belli (1598) believed maintaining union relies on equal distribution, where no molecule surpasses another.
• Lorenzo de Medici was friend of peace and father of it, and wanted balance of power.
• Balance of power would give peace to Italy.
• Renaissance (1450s-) happened.
• In greater Europe, balance was understood as France v Habsburgs, or Christianity and the Turks, Catholics v Protestants.
• The balance of power promised stability and predictable behavior between states.
• Essential aspects involved free states vs social order between those States.
• The latter was important from 1648 onwards.
• Mary of Hungary (Habsburg Regent in Holland) referred to the balancing techniques by Italian Princes (1535).
• Guicciardini's Translation dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I, said God put balance in her hands, and to counterpoise all Kings (1579).
• Queen Elizabeth I initiated the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604), part of the larger 'Eighty Years War' (1568-1648)
• It was "´the master-institution of the balance of power" [first appearance]
• Sir Francis Walsingham proposed aid to the Dutch, by moving the French King to concur.
• The 1648 Peace of Westphalia

Westphalia Overview

• A European-wide acceptance by treaty, on the concept of the autonomous, sovereign state.
• There were fixed territorial boundaries of states.
• It consisted of answerable to no higher authority par in parem non habet imperium.
• Politically supreme within territorial boundaries, with policies dictated by the raison d´état.
• How sovereign is a sovereign state?
• State sovereignty is intertwined with consolidating legal kingdoms and proto-national consciousness.
• According to it, a state exists in the hearts and minds of its people.
• A modern state can be seen as an evolution with these traits
• 1300s King of England had Sovereignty, with sovereign power for law making.
• 1180-1223 France, Philip Augustus: consolidated authority by administrative decrees.
• Both kingdoms had a territory, permanent institutions of royal justice and finance, the use and development of Roman law, degree of stability for state-building, and popular loyalty.

External Factors

• External authority leads to growth of diplomacy, alliances among sovereigns.
• Internal authority meant there were ideals of citizenship and service, for pubic loyalty.
• Resulting also in "systemic effect".
• Towards Westphalia, population growth increased taxable wealth, feudal undercurrent, new vs. old wealth.
• Challenge of the legitimate religious and political authority of Pope and Emperor with all the factors.
• Ottoman Empire
  • Distracted weakened Habsburgs
• Shifted from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic
• Europe accumulated capital from globalised "trading"
• The Habsburg were weakened.
• Decline of feudal loyalties stemmed from Protestanism, Cuis Regio.
• System of quasi-autonomous pollities meaning no central authority.
• The Treaty of Westphalia 1643 marked the European Wide acceptance of a fixed law.
• Modern Peace set in Christendom and reduced liberties.
• Emperor of Augsburg
• The estates now have the right to elect the emperor without the Vatican.
• Huldrych was responsible for many of the key components of what would later become baptist doctrines along with the dutch minister Menno Simmons.
• Brought upon by the swiss to see peace.
• Thomas Hobbins wanted an alternative view for the system
• Believed to have self interest,and to have a seeking sovereign of States...
• The Field of Golden Cloth*
• Henry VIII had better relationship between Charles V of France.
• Limited BOP's
• Overall there are two factors pre 1648.

Limited factors Pre-1648

Overall there are factors that are limited Pre-1648

• Religious Sectism.
• Dominated Spanish power.