Power Dynamics And Balance Of Power In International Relations

Abstract

The dynamics of power play a central role in shaping the interactions and behaviors of states within the international system. The balance of power, often regarded as a core concept in international relations (IR), influences not only the survival and strategies of states but also the broader geopolitical order. Looking into this perspective, this research article aims to evaluate the multifarious nature of power in international relations by deeply examining how it is conceptualized, contested, and deployed across different theoretical frameworks. [1]The discussion commences by exploring classical realism, which views power primarily as a means of survival in an anarchic international system, followed by neorealism, which shifts focus to the structural aspects of power in the international system. This research article also endeavours to delineate the constructivist perspective, which highlights the role of ideational and social factors in shaping power dynamics, along with the critical theories, which help in learning power through the lens of capitalist domination and global inequality. With an exhaustive analysis of these diverse theoretical approaches, the article aims to provide a proper understanding of how power influences global politics, particularly by contributing to the ongoing debate on power dynamics and how it is mobilized, contested, and transformed in a swiftly changing global order.