Proxy conflicts are indirect confrontations between major powers or ideologies, fought through third parties or in third countries, to avoid direct military engagement and its potential escalation. These conflicts often serve as battlegrounds for larger geopolitical struggles, with local actors and issues becoming intertwined with global power dynamics.
The Balance of Power is a central concept in international relations theory that suggests peace and stability are maintained when military capabilities are distributed so that no single nation or alliance can dominate others. It operates under the assumption that states will act to prevent any one entity from becoming too powerful, often leading to alliances and counterbalances to maintain equilibrium.