BALANCE OF POWER

In Politics, a system by which the relative power of different states and alliances is so maintained as to render any extensive derangement improbable. The idea of preserving a balance of jiower naturally suggested itself to statesmen in ancient Greece, where so large a number of independent states with opposing interests existed on a narrow territory. In Europe, this portion of political science scarcely began to be understood until the 16th century; since which time the maintenance of the balance of power has formed a favourite object, often pursued with unreasonable avidity, by those who have controlled the international relations of Christen dom. The great aim of neutral politicians during that century was to establish a balance between the power of France and that of Austria: the latter united with that of Spain became so enormously powerful in the course of it, as to render this an object of groat anxiety. But after the commencement of the 17th century the power of France steadily increased, and that of Austria abated. Cromwell's alliance with Mazarin was the last result of the ancient system: for the alliances of Charles II. with the French were for personal objects, and strongly reprobated by all European statesmen. At the end of the 17th century France stood predominant, and if became the great problem of European politics to find a counterpoise to her influence. This was the aim of William III., Eugene, and the Whigs under Queen Anne; and the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which acknowledged the French supremacy in Spain, was condemned as one of the severest blows ever struck at the balance of power. Neverthele , this fear, like so many others sedulously cherished by speculative statesmen, proved to have little foundation. The power of France remained stationary during the 18th century, while the forces of Austria, Ru ia, and Britain increased; and Pru ia suddenly arose from a third-rate power to the lowest, but still a resvectable position, among the first-rates. During that century the alliances were formed with no very steady regard' to the balance of power: France and Austria were usually, but not uniformly, rivals. In 1756, the three great Continental powers were united in a fruitle endeavour to crush the new state of Pru ia. The wars of the French revolution entirely altered the ancieot I 3 [s. 130]