What term describes the strategy where superpowers maintain similar military capabilities to prevent dominance by any single power?

The concept of balance of power refers to a situation in international relations where military capabilities are distributed in such a way that no single nation or alliance can dominate the others. This strategy is essential in foreign policy because it aims to prevent any one state from becoming too powerful, thereby ensuring stability and predictability in international politics.

The balance of power philosophy holds that when military power is distributed evenly, it reduces the likelihood of conflict. Countries are less likely to initiate hostilities if they recognize that their potential adversaries match their own military capabilities. This ensures that all states acknowledge the risk of mutual destruction, which acts as a deterrent against aggressive actions.

In contrast, military parity specifically refers to an exact equivalence in military strength between two states, while the security dilemma captures the situation where one state’s efforts to improve its security can lead to increased tensions and an arms race with others. Strategic equivalence, on the other hand, may involve various forms of military capabilities beyond just raw numbers. Consequently, these terms do not encapsulate the broader notion of balance that is crucial for maintaining global stability.