The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the basic concepts associated with the balance of power. This is an ancient concept, associated with realpolitik practices of national diplomacy that date back thousands of years. However, the precise meaning of the balance of power has varied across different times, and this course seeks to create a dynamic environment within which students can unpack these concepts. The course consist of two parallel activities – a discussion board, within which students read a selected reading and respond to a critical question, and a dynamic simulation, in which students examine.