several rrays. It may deicribe the generaL character of an international system where States, in the absence of a higher authority regulating relaEions between them. seek security by creaEing lxtwer arrangenents EhaE reduce tbe risk of attack upon then, a Process lhat has tended to Produce offsetEing coaliEions against emerging conclntrations of porre r anyrrhere in the sysEem' It nay refer Eo a situation in which equivalent porer is hetd by teo or more naEions or groups of nations and !o a Policy of pto.ottng Ehe creation or Preservation of such equivalence in poser' A1so. it is sometimes understood as a system of international relations in which agreed arrangenoents are made by States concerning tbeoPerationandadjustnentoftheirpot'errelationships,whichnayberef].ectedeither in a lotre r or higher level of arrnanents.^/ 40 /s53 EngIish Page 13 15. Tbe concept of balance of pouer had its heyday in the eighEeenth and nineteencb centuries. In Europe, the concept was expressed as a nultiple balance anong at least five great Folrers, any combi,nation of t hich was considered capableof neutralizing an aggreasor. The system had no cenEral organization. However, the concept suffered disrepute during the first half of tbe Ewentieth century- 15. Various problens are lnherenE in the balance of trrcwer concept. In addition to the difficulty of alefining and measuring "porer", the concepl imPticitlYlegitinizes the use of force in international relatlons. Furthernore, in their Pursuit of security states often try !o create and nainEain a nfavourable" balanceof power ' i.e- a preponderance of power for themselves, $bich adds to international tension and sEinulates arns races. T:.e balance of poner as a systen t|as not capable of dealing $ith Ehe security needs of all States. It. often produced equilibrium between the great. Pohrers tdt tolerated both terrieorial annexations in Europe and imperial expansion ln regions of developing countries.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a theoretical and historical discussion about the concept of "balance of power" in international relations, focusing on its development, characteristics, and limitations. It does not seem to be related to any specific economic, social, or environmental issue, but rather to the realm of politics and international relations.

**Category**
International relations, Politics