The Concept of Balance of Interests and U.S.-Soviet Interaction

Abstract

Effective and continuous Soviet-American cooperation in handling regional problems is hardly possible without a shared understanding of conflict in general and optimum ways for affecting its dynamics. Most American schools of conflict research proceed from the concept of balance of power. Soviet political thinking has suggested a competing approach based on the concept of balance of interests. This conceptual deadlock can be overcome through an elaboration of what precisely is meant by balance of interests. Such an analysis shows that balance of interests is virtually an external manifestation of balance of power, and its character typically depends on the latter's transformation. In broader terms, balance of interests means an equilibrium between elements of confrontation and cooperation. The concept of balance of interests proves to be a lot richer in its implications than reliance on power fluctuations, since it justifies a possibility not only of a settlement, but also of resolution of some conflicts by reconsidering and drawing apart interests that seemed to be mutually denying. This concept is a promising tool for conflict analysis and diplomacy.