What foreign-policy principle asserts that no single European power should dominate the continent?

• A. Balance of Power
• B. Divine Right
• C. Mercantilism
• D. Absolutism

Answer: (A)

Balance of power in European diplomacy aims to keep any single state from dominating the continent. The idea is that when one country becomes too strong, others form coalitions to counter it, preserving a rough equilibrium so no one can impose dominance. This approach shaped European relations after the Napoleonic Wars, with major powers like Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia working together through alliances to maintain stability and prevent continental hegemony. Divine Right is about rulers claiming authority from God, mercantilism is an economic policy focused on wealth and trade, and absolutism is about centralized royal power within a single state—none of these address preventing one country from dominating Europe.