Unit Two

Balances and Imbalances of Power Unit Two Intensive Reading Balances and Imbalances of Power

Concert of Europe ---a loose agreement by the major European powers to act together on European questons of common interest

The Concert of Europe was a group of countries in Europe who worked together and agreed on things (also known as an "alliance") between 1814 and 1914. The member countries were the United Kingdom, Austria, Russia and Prussia (no longer a country). After Napoleon, ruler of France, was no longer in power, France joined the Concert of Europe.

Leaders British Foreign Secretary - Lord Castlereagh Austrian Chancellor - Prince Klemenz von Metternich Russian Czar - Alexander I

The Concert was also known as the Congress System, where leaders would meet and reach decisions by mutual agreement. It eventually would change names and more countries joined to form The League of Nations.

Important goals of the Concert: control France after many years of war develop a "balance of power" among the nations of Europe uphold the agreements set by the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) prevent another dictator from gaining too much power (like Napoleon)

Benefits: helped Greece and Belgium gain independence helped end the eight-year Egyptian control of Syria

拿破仑战争结束后,欧洲列强以会议的方式协商处理欧洲重大问题的协商外交机制。19世纪的大国战略关系主要表现为“欧洲协调”局面的出现。维也纳和会之后，奥地利、普鲁士、俄国、英国和法国等欧洲强国为当时欧洲国际体系带来了近一个世纪的和平。

首先，“欧洲协调”实践表明了欧洲信奉基督教的白种欧洲人之间的认同，这一认同伴随各列强在欧洲以外地区的殖民过程而得到增强。 其次，“欧洲协调”的另一个诱因是联手镇压欧洲兴起的大众革命，如1848年爆发的欧洲革命。 再次，欧洲大国当时面临的主要问题都在国内，如德国和意大利的统一问题，而“欧洲协调”则避免了诸强在欧洲的冲突。 在“欧洲协调”中，五大国组成联盟以制衡任何潜在的更有力的集团，防止欧洲霸权国家的出现。

Para 1 The only check on … forming a league of defense. (para 1) The only limitation to the abuse of political power has in every case come from the existence of an opposing power which is equally strong or an alliance of several countries which forms a group of defense.

consist in — have sth. as its chief or only element or feature 在于，存在于 e.g.这计划的好处就在于简单易行。 The beauty of the plan consists in its simplicity. Education does not simply consist in learning a lot of facts.

Technically 专门地，技术上地，工艺地 The word “technical” is derived from the word “technique”; while a seemingly alike word “technological” is derived from the word “technology”. “Technical” means having special skill or practical knowledge especially in a mechanical or scientific field or used in or peculiar to a specific field or profession. e.g. a technical adviser 技术顾问 technical terminology 专门词汇，技术术语 However, “technological” means relating to or involving technology, especially scientific technology or affected by or resulting from scientific and industrial progress. e.g. technological innovation scientific and technological challenges

See — 1).(here means) to know through firsthand experience 了解，明白 e.g. He saw some service in the French and Indian War. 2). Another meaning of “see” is to give rise to or be characterized by e.g. The 1990s saw the best economic performance in the United States in three decades. “See”, when used in the second meaning, is a synonym to “witness”. e.g. The last decade has witnessed a significant growth in the use of information technology and information systems.

Para 3 Stability in Europe … would-be hegemon. Great Britain is willing to give full support to the lesser state or coalition when the balance of power was at risk, resulting from the appearance of a potential hegemon, which contributed to stability in Europe.

The word “associate” has a number of parts of speech The word “associate” has a number of parts of speech. It is used as a vt in the text. It can also be used as in vi, or a n. or an adj. 1). When used as vi, it, similar to the word “join”, means to join in a form a league. e.g. If his health permits, he will ~ in many important business ventures. As vi, it also means to spend time socially 与某人交往或打交道 e.g. She often ~ with her coworkers on weekends. 2). Used as n., “associate” may mean a person united with another or others in an act, enterprise, or business. Used in this context, it is a synonym to partner or colleague. 同事，伙伴 e.g. He never hangs out with his ~s in the evening. 3). “Associate”, as an adj., means “joined with another or others and having equal or nearly equal status or having partial status or privileges.” （与某职业或组织）联合的，联盟的，合伙的 e.g. David is an ~ editor of Nature magazine. (副主编，助理编辑) an ~ judge 陪审法官 the ~ producer of a film 联合制片人

Para 4 …there is nothing to prevent … suits its purpose. …nothing is able to stop the stronger from being hostile to its allies as long as that satisfies its own purpose.

Confederation of Rhine

It was formed initially from 16 German states by Napoleon after he defeated Austria and Russia in the Battle of Austerlitz. The Treaty of Pressburg, in effect, led to the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine. It lasted from 1806 to 1813.

The members of the confederation were German princes from the Holy Roman Empire. They were later joined by 19 others, all together ruling a total of over 15 million subjects providing a significant strategic advantage to the French Empire on its eastern front. Prussia and Austria were not members.

Napoleon sought to consolidate the modernizing achievements of the revolution, but he wanted the soldiers and supplies these subject states could provide for his wars. Napoleon required it to supply 63,000 troops to his army. The success of the Confederation depended on Napoleon's success in battle; it collapsed when he lost the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.

And although Hitler and Mussolini … with balance-of-power reasoning And although Hitler and Mussolini … with balance-of-power reasoning. (para 4) Despite the fact that Hitler and Mussolini shared something in common in terms of fascist designs for their societies, the alliance of Italy with Germany went against balance-of-power reasoning.

Odds Note that the word “odds” is used in a few idioms. 1). Against all the odds 尽管有极大的困难 2). Be at odds 争执，不相称，不和谐 3). By all odds 肯定地，无疑地，远远超过 4). Give odds 给予对方以有利的条件，预测，猜测 5). It makes no odds. 不要紧。 6). Lay odds 给予对方以有利的条件，预测，猜测 7). Odds and ends 剩余物，零碎物件 8). Odds on 胜算，胜利的成分，有一半以上的胜算的 9). Over the odds 超过预期的 10). The odds are against 形势对…不利，可能性不大 11). The odds are in someone’s favor. 形势对某人有利。 12). What are the odds? 那有什么要紧？

Most The word “most” is often used with many adjectives and adverbs to form the superlative degree. However, in the text, it means very. e.g. He takes efforts to build a most exciting website.

Para 5 Contemporary Contemporary, contemporaneous, simultaneous, synchronous, concurrent, coincident, concomitant are all synonyms, meaning “existing or occurring at the same time”. 1). Contemporary is used more often of persons, contemporaneous of events and facts.当代的，同时代的，同时期的 e.g. The composer Salieri was contemporary with Mozart. A rise in interest rate is often comtemporaneous with an increase in inflation. 2). “Simultaneous” more narrowly specifies occurrence of events at the same time. 同时的，同时发生的 e.g. The activists organized ~ demonstrations in many major cities. 3). “Synchronous” refers to correspondence(一致) of events in time over a short period.同步的 e.g. The dancer executed a series of synchronous movements. 4). “Concurrent” implies parallelism in character or length of time. 并发的 e.g. The mass murderer was given three ~ life sentences. 那个屠杀群众的凶手被同时判处并执行三个无期徒刑。

5). “Coincident” applies to events occurring at the same time without implying a relationship. 同时发生的，巧遇 e.g. The resistance to the Pope’s authority …is pretty nearly coincident with the rise of the Ottomans. (John Henry Newman) 6). “Concomitant” refers to coincidence in time of events so clearly related that one seems attendant on the other. 相伴的，共存的，附随的 e.g. He is an adherent of Freud’s theories and had a concomitant belief in the efficacy of psychoanalysis. Also note that when “contemporary” is used in reference to something in the past, its meaning is not always clear. “Contemporary critics of Shakespeare” may mean critics in his time or critics in our time. When the context does not make the meaning clear, misunderstanding can be avoided by using phrases such as “critics in Shakespeare’s time” or “modern critics”.

Thus, some caution that … erode U.S. freedom of action. (para 5) For this reason, some people warn the United States that it should exercise its power in accordance with the law and with restrictions so that it will not incite prospective competitors like China, Russia or even France and Germany, to forming a counter-balancing alliance that will destroy U.S. freedom of action.

Offensive realism 进攻性现实主义认为，大国在面对另一个实力不断膨胀的国家时，第一反应不是寻求建立针对该国的均势同盟，而是倾向于采取推卸责任的政策。即把遏制实力不断膨胀的国家的责任推卸给他国，让他国充当责任承担者，自己则坐山观虎斗，冷眼旁观。

Lest It typically takes the subjunctive mood. e.g. Do this now, lest you run out of time later. He brought the horses home, lest they be frightened by the storm.

According to others … by a balance-of-power logic. (para 5) As far as others — supporters of “offensive realism” — is concerned, the United States may also submit itself without resistance to the development of new rivals like China, which is bound to occur in a system ruled by a balance-of-power reasoning.

Defensive realism 国际政治的无政府状态，不必然会导致冲突，在适当的条件配合下，国家彼此是可以合作的，冲突是可以避免的，对外扩张不见得对国家有利，有时反而会导致自我毁灭，国家想要得到安全的最好的方法是维持既有的权利平衡，而不是累计权利。

守势现实主义对国际政治采取较乐观的看法，认为国际体系蕴藏的侵略诱因并不多，而此诱因的大小要视诸如攻守平衡或地理环境等其他因素而定，国际政治的无政府状态不必然会导致冲突。

Most important difference is that defensive variety argues that anarchy only provides incentives for expansion under certain conditions, while offensive variety holds that anarchy always provides incentives for expansion.

Para 6 In other words, if states balance … a few rogue states. To put it in another way, if states reach a balance against detected and recognized potential challengers instead of some notion of power without real intentions, then U.S. hegemony does not (or need not) prove itself dangerous with exception of some states which are no longer obedient and controllable.

Para 7 De-emphasize 前缀de来自拉丁语，意为“away from”,所以这个前缀的意义之一就是“离开”，“出”，它构成的词有一定的规律性，常表“离开”这一深层概念，而且常与介词from等搭配，如： deport 驱逐出境 deduce 推断 derail 脱轨 Delete his name from the list of members. The train will depart from platform 2. 另外，前缀de还表示“除去”、“取消”以及“否定”、“非”、“相反”的意思，如： decamp撤营 decode解码 deforest 砍伐森林 decolonize 非殖民化 devaluation 贬值 de-ice 除冰

The Geneva Convention 1864年至1949年在瑞士日内瓦缔结的关于保护平民和战争受难者的一系列国际公约的总称。日内瓦（四）公约于1950年10月21日生效，1977年6月10日在日内瓦又签订了日内瓦（四）公约的两项附加议定书，并于1978年12月7日生效。该公约被认为是国际主义人道法的重要组成部分，是约束战争和冲突状态下敌对双方行为规则的权威法律文件。中国于1956年加入此公约。2009年8月12日，《日内瓦（四）公约》已签订60周年。

Para 8 … a dominant great power … the shrine of collective security. …actually a controlling strong power acts in its own, but, feeling uneasy with the idea and still praying for the holy goal of collective security.

P46 Dictation Globalization is not only having a massive impact on Europe’s economic performance, but is also changing our social landscape. Yet in responding to these changes, reforms are being implemented slowly, if at all. In a continent in which nearly one in ten people are out of work, it is our duty to ask how the European Union can help them. Advancing such a perspective is difficult in Europe partly because too often the focus has been on means rather than ends. To deliver social justice and fair and decent standard of living, the means — the existing variegated pattern of welfare states and social structures across Europe — are almost certainly going to have to change. This does not mean and should not necessitate a race to the bottom. But it does mean Europe’s economies must adapt to the conditions of today as well as preparing their citizens for the working world of the future. The economic systems that thrive will be those which take changes as a given, and which focus on ensuring that their citizens are equipped to respond.

Reading & Writing South-South Cooperation: Trade as a Means Para 1 Collective bargaining power can be translated into 整体议价能力 e.g. The source of workers’ collective bargaining power is their credible(可靠的) threat of collective action against an employer.

Para 4 including but not limited to The phrase can be translated into 包括但不限于 e.g. Feel free to bring whatever you would like to eat and drink, including but not limited to soda, chips, and candy. The phrase is typically found in contracts. It enables the contract writer to make claims later without having given all details of their description at the time the agreement was made. Sometimes the wording is “including without limitation”.