<P> The European balance of power referred to European international relations before the First World War , which evolved into the present states of Europe . The current European balance of power is a supranational organization known as the European Union rather than the Nineteenth Century political concept that emerged at the Peace of Paris in 1815 . It is often known by the term European State System . Its basic tenet is that no single European power should be allowed to achieve hegemony over a substantial part of the continent and that this is best curtailed by having a small number of ever - changing alliances contend for power , it also meant that none should be able to achieve absolute power . </P>
what was the balance of power in ww1
The European balance of power referred to European international relations before the First World War , which evolved into the present states of Europe .