Make up post: 'Balance of Power'

In, ‘The Balance of Power: Prescription, Concept or Propaganda?’, E Haas  attempts to showcase the multitude of definitions regarding the aforementioned concept through the lenses of eight separate authors. In this sense the piece is essentially an explanation rather than a critique, yet the clarification is valuable in its own right considering the confusion that surrounds the balance of power theory.

Some of the authors that Haas mentions include Quincy Wright, and Hans Morgenthau. Wright discusses the theory by dividing it into two parts: static, which is the general balance that exists in the prevailing system and dynamic, which describes the events that ensure the system remains static. Haas uses the explanations of other authors to come up with his own list of the functions and meanings of the concept including as peace and stability, war and instability and as propaganda. Unfortunately, in his quest to be as thorough as possible the authors leaves a confusing mess in his wake with far too many uses and definitions being thrown about.

The concept of balance of power can be considered interesting due the very multifaceted nature that Haas is attempting to decipher. Perhaps so many definitions exist precisely because the theory has significant scope and a higher degree of applicability to real world scenarios. It’s use as propaganda can be found in innumerable instances including a case discussed in class regarding Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s campaign to alert the world about the imminent nuclear weapon that Middle eastern countries including previously Iraq and now Iran are allegedly on the verge of possessing; a devastating campaign that has continued for a decade and led to conflicts and embargoes despite no weapon emerging.