The balance of power is a key concept in international relations, as it dictates how states interact and pursue their interests. A stable balance can prevent conflict and encourage cooperation, while an imbalance may lead to hegemony by a dominant state or provoke power struggles among nations. Realist theories assert that states act primarily out of self-interest, leading to strategic alliances or deterrence strategies to maintain equilibrium. Understanding this dynamic is essential for analyzing geopolitical conflicts and predicting the behavior of states within the international system.