The Balance of Power in International Relations

Exploring the concept of the balance of power, Richard Little presents it as a metaphor, myth, and model in international relations. He reassesses four influential texts—Morgenthau's Politics Among Nations, Bull's The Anarchical Society, Waltz's Theory of International Politics, and Mearsheimer's The Tragedy of Great Power Politics—to enhance the understanding of this pivotal theory. Through these analyses, Little aims to construct a more comprehensive model that reflects the evolving dynamics of international politics over the last five centuries.