balance-of-power
UK[ˈbæləns əv ˈpaʊə]US[ˈbæləns əv ˈpaʊər]
noun phrase
A situation in which nations or groups have roughly equal military or political strength, preventing any single one from becoming dominant.
noun phrase
The distribution of power among different branches or groups within a government or organization to prevent the concentration of authority.
Morpheme Breakdown
balance
of
power
balance
equilibrium
of
connective
power
authority
Etymology
The phrase "balance of power" is a conceptual compound built from native English and French-Latin elements. Its core logic is metaphorical, applying the physical concept of "balance"—derived from the Latin for a two-pan scale—to the abstract realm of political or military force, denoted by "power." The term emerged in political discourse during the early modern period, particularly to describe the strategic equilibrium sought among European states to prevent hegemony. The connective "of" grammatically subordinates "power" as the object being balanced, creating a precise label for a system where countervailing forces create stability through mutual deterrence.
Analysis
Structure: balance (equilibrium) + of (connective) + power (authority)
- balance: From Latin bilancis (having two scales), via Old French. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a state of equilibrium or stability.
- of: From Old English of, a preposition used here as a connective particle indicating a relationship between concepts.
- power: From Old French poeir, ultimately from Latin potis (able). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning authority, strength, or influence.
Examples
The treaty was designed to maintain a delicate balance-of-power in the region.
The constitutional system relies on a balance-of-power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Historians argue that the balance-of-power politics of the 19th century prevented a major continental war for decades.