MARCO CESA

L'equilibrio internazionale: modelli a confronto

N. 154

Summary — The essay critically evaluates the role of the balance of power concept in three major paradigms of contemporary international relations theory, i.e. Realism (Frederick Schuman, Hans Morgenthau), Hedley Bull’s "Grotian" perspective, and Neorealism (Kenneth Waltz, Robert Gilpin). After pointing out the persistence of divergent interpretations of the balance of power even within the same school of thought, and accounting for the peculiarity of the connection between the balance of power and Gilpin’s theory of hegemonic stability, it is argued that such a theoretical ambiguity basically originates from two different traditions of thought in international relations theory, one stressing the conflictual nature of international politics, and one taking into account cooperative phenomena as well. Those traditions share a broad common denominator: they both link the balance of power to security and neither of them associates it to general peace. Yet it is possible to differentiate between those (Waltz and Schuman) who are simply and mostly concerned with sheer power and security, i.e. with national goals, and those (Bull and Morgenthau) who argue that the balance of power, under certain conditions, and along with other institutions, can also lead to some moderation and stability, i.e. to international goals. The last part of the essay constitutes a response to the critique of the balance of power by A.F.K. Organski.