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.
The security dilemma is a situation in international relations where actions taken by a state to increase its security can lead to increased tensions and insecurity among other states, potentially resulting in an arms race or conflict. It highlights the paradox that measures intended to bolster security can inadvertently provoke threats, as other states may perceive these actions as aggressive rather than defensive.