Europe in the classical balance of power system versus Western Europe in the bipolar balance of power system

Abstract

In this thesis, 'Europe' in the Classical Balanceof Power System versus 'Western Europe' in the BipolarBalance of Power System were examined by using traditionalsources and analyzlng interactions among th€~European members.The study, in the first chapter,the shortcomings of the classical balance of power system intel'-iTiS of casE': histor-ies. Studying thE? doctt-ine in opet-'a tionS`,fiOhIS' thB.t the cla.ssic.sl balance of pOIA)er sys.tem was thesystem of European states and not the non-European ones. Theassumptions a aims, and means of the cla~sical balance ofpower theory as a whole indicates that it was alwaysvulnerable to breakdown within itself even in the Europeanarea ..It was concluded that the classicalpower theory is lacking in explanatory power evenrespect to that certain time B.nd space ( 1648-1'=114) Cj1`European history. It should not be conceived as a system ofmanagemen~ of international relations.The study, in the second chapter, tries to examinehow the bipolar balance of power system arose from itsEuropean predecessor and how Western Europe's status differsin this new international system. The theory of the bipolarbalance of power examined with great care. It is recalledseveral times that one should not have in mind the Europeanprototype of the balance of power in order to construct amodel that would explain the worldwide balance of today.Then the limits of the study are underlined concerning thecomplex web of today's world politics.The results of the analysis of Western Europe,exam1neo during four time periods after 1948, showed thatthe issues under consideration were closely related to oneanother and greatly influenced by the power politics, bothat the domestic and international levels.