Vol. 17 No. 17 (2016): Scientific Journal Referee Issue: 17

The balance: this divine tool of existence and human creation, has multiple connotations covering wide areas in various fields—cultural, economic, political, social, legal, ethical, religious, scientific, industrial, commercial, military, etc. From this tool, the golden word "balance" is derived, indicating every noble and honorable action that enhances human dignity and assures him peace, tranquility, and safety, keeping away all life's disturbances.

Historically, the world has operated based on the principle of power balance to limit the dominance of powerful states over weaker ones, curbing their desire for control and oppression. This balance of international powers is a golden or magical equation that prevents strong nations from exploiting and oppressing weaker peoples, safeguarding international peace and security.

Since the beginning of the modern era, the balance of international powers has undergone six stages over a span of more than four centuries:

1. The era of Western colonialism (imbalance of power) from 1500 to 1917 – 417 years.
2. The phase of power balance adjustments (Soviet Union) from 1917 to 1945.
   • Western colonial powers, by their very nature, sought to oppress and exploit peoples. However, they realized that the emerging socialist ideology in the colonized countries posed a real threat to their existence and would become a tool for the oppressed peoples to rise and liberate themselves from colonialism. They found their solace in the Islamic awakening that emerged in Egypt in the 1920s under the name of the Muslim Brotherhood, considering it an ideological competitor to socialism, and worked to contain and alter its course.
   • When Britain failed to carry out its tasks towards the Muslim Brotherhood, it handed over the responsibility to the United States, which also found solace in it. The matter became more complicated when America's relationship with Saudi Arabia strengthened. It is known that powerful countries do not only seek economic and political interests through their relationships with other states but also study the cultural and historical structures of those states. They found their goal in the Wahhabi thought or doctrine, ensuring its survival and continuity. Thus, the ideology became two-pronged, with Wahhabism and the Muslim Brotherhood providing an ideological base that could be used in the future.
3. The actual beginning of international power balance (1945-1960).
   • The Soviet Union emerged as a force on the international political scene with an ideology opposing the colonial powers.
   • The United Nations was established to ensure the achievement of international peace and security by protecting the sovereignty and independence of its member states.
   • The start of decolonization and calls for liberation from colonialism and reactionary forces.
4. The continuation of the international power balance (1960-1985). During this period, the world was divided into almost two camps: the capitalist camp, which revolved around the colonial and reactionary powers, and the socialist camp, supporting liberation and independence movements worldwide. This camp worked to curb the arrogance and aggression of the capitalist camp, especially the United States.
   • The two sides entered into a Cold War that lasted more than two decades, each trying to limit the other's influence. However, the capitalist rhetoric had a greater impact on the general public, particularly in the Third World countries and the Arab region. Western intelligence agencies, especially America, managed to revive and use Islamist political ideologies (the Brotherhood and Wahhabism) against the ideological enemy (the Soviet Union).
5. The loss of international political balance (1985-2010). This period witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and the emergence of a unipolar world order dominated by the United States. The repercussions of losing the balance of power became apparent, with America becoming the ultimate authority on moral and political standards, deciding which countries should remain and which should disappear from the international political scene. This dominance led to the old colonial powers (Western European countries) submitting to America, trailing behind it like the reactionary and despotic states in the region, lacking any significant geopolitical influence.
6. The wide-ranging impact of this lack of international political balance on the respect for the international community, represented by the United Nations and the Security Council, resulted in a loss of basic organizational principles and turned these bodies into a market for enslavement.