- A concept originating after the Thirty Years' War and the Peaceof Westphalia, a result of the fear of sovereign nations that anysingle nation in Europe might come to dominate the others.- Alliances among nation-states were formed (and reformed as necessary) in response to perceived threats in the balance of power as nations sought to limit the power of any one nation.- Pursuit of the balance of power led to frequent conflict in Europe asnation-states competed with one another for control and influence.- This concept led to the formation of alliances that played a critical role in the start of World War I in 1914.

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