Restoration of the Balance of Power

Definition

The balance of power refers to an international relations policy where nations ensure that no single country becomes significantly stronger than others. After Napoleon's defeat, European leaders sought this balance by restoring old regimes and creating alliances.

Analogy

Imagine playing tug-of-war with your friends. If one side gets too strong and starts pulling everyone else over, it's not fun anymore. So you rearrange teams so that each side has equal strength - this is what European leaders were trying to do with countries after Napoleon's reign.

Related terms

Diplomacy: The practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states or groups, aiming at maintaining peace and resolving disputes.

Alliance System: An agreement between two or more countries for mutual support in case any member faces security threats from other nations.

Napoleonic Wars: A series of major conflicts pitting the French Empire, led by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, against an array of European powers formed into various coalitions.