BALANCE OF POWER

term for a systematic effort on the part of a state or group of states to restrain any other state of group of states from obtaining a predominance which tends to endanger their independence. European history from 16th to 20th cent. dominated by the varied grouping of powers to maintain this balance. Accident of dynastic succe ion gave immense agglomerative power to Emperor Charles V., and france, with some a istance from England, resisted this overgrown power; under Philip II. pre dom in ante of Spain destroyed by union of maritime strength of England, France, and Holland. Habsburg ascendency destroyed by Treaties of Westphalia (1648) and the Pyrenees (1659), with the result that France under Louis XIV. became dominant. Fr. ascendency was finally broken by Marl borough and Prince Eugéne Treaty of Utrecht a deliberate and not unsucce ful attempt to establish oquilib: rium, which though occasionally shaken, was not overthrown in XVIII. cent. During this period the doctrine underwent a perversion—viz., principle of equality of this was fatal to smaller states, as seen in partition of Poland. After Fr. Revolution France under Napoleon gained most marked ascendency ever known in Europe; coalition overthrew him, and balance was restored by settlement of 1815. Nineteenth cent. distinguished by uneasy but fairly stable equilibrium. Rise of Ger. Empire (1871) and alliance with Austria-Hungary created new and disquieting force, which brought about alliance between Ru ia and France, and’ an imperfectly defined understanding between these powers and Britain. This division of Europe into two groups created situation which developed into the World War. Now proposed to guard against similar dangers in future by formation of League of Nations.