Legal Definitions - balance of power

Definition: Balance of power refers to a situation in international law where there is a relative equality of force between countries or groups of countries. This results in peace because no country is in a position to dominate.

Example: During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were the two superpowers that dominated the world. However, they both had nuclear weapons, which created a balance of power. Neither country could attack the other without risking a devastating counterattack. This balance of power prevented a direct military conflict between the two countries.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a balance of power can prevent conflict between two countries. In this case, the possession of nuclear weapons by both the United States and the Soviet Union created a situation where neither country could dominate the other. This prevented a direct military conflict between the two countries, which could have resulted in a devastating war.