Balance of power
Primary institution in global polity. Relations between entities are regulated through the distribution of power, where polities may recurse to realizing the balance of power.
When we talk about the differences in capabilities between polities, we talk about the balance of power between them. If one polity is able to satisfy its interest by attacking another polity, then this polity might recurse to such measures. Ultimately this can mean war, but basically, distribution of power is contemplated by each polity vis a vis the possibility that other polities may attack. In the case one is worried about such event as an attack by another polity, a polity will usually either seek to establish defensive measures or establish measures to attack in advance. These considerations amounts to the ‘security dilemma’, that lies at the base of the balance of power: to keep the balance, one will add defensive or offensive capabilities; these measures will in turn be seen as an escalating of the ability to get a better outcome, and may thus give rise to considerations about whether the other polity, will also have to employ new offensive or defensive capabilities to sustain the balance of power. Balancing power between polities is as old as polities, is deeply institutionalized in the global political order and play a huge role in regulating relations between polities in the global polity.