The Balance of Power and Great Power Management

Abstract

The balance of power and great power management play crucial roles in Bull’s analysis of the anarchical society. For Bull, they constitute two of five key institutions that helped to develop and sustain a European international society of states. However, the balance of power has a privileged role in Bull’s analysis because it helps to provide ‘the conditions in which other institutions on which international order depends are able to operate’ (2002:112, 102). A closer investigation reveals, however, that the balance of power as presented in The Anarchical Society is more complex and problematic than is generally appreciated. Although Bull argues that the institutional structure of the European international society was underpinned by the balance of power, his analysis reveals that, in practice, the five institutions that he associates with international society are mutually interdependent. Far from underpinning international society, the balance of power is to a significant extent sustained by the existence of the other institutions. The link between the balance of power and great power management is particularly important. In the absence of institutionalized great powers, Bull’s analysis reveals that a balance of power will fail to emerge and persist. But, by the same token, without an institutionalized balance of power, the survival of the other institutions is also placed in jeopardy.