The realist theory of international relations represented why and how the dominance of certain powers occurred in the nineteenth century. Control of land during this period was directly proportional to the distribution of wealth among European states. This made the states that controlled most of the territory the dominant powers and created the international environment that influenced interaction between states. Centuries before, states used international diplomacy within power politics that included their militaries to ensure national security. Although anarchy existed, states attempted to maintain international stability through congresses in three specific cases during this century in order to maintain the balance of power in the country. world. Because states retained their individual rights and the ability to abandon alliances when they wished, there was no government or other type of international authority, and security dilemmas continued. Fear and mistrust created the way global politics played out, which in turn created an ongoing competition among states to become hegemonic. The Congress of Vienna of 1814, which presented Russia, Austria, Prussia and Great Britain as the countries dominating the powers known as the Quadruple Alliance, diplomatically decided the fate of France and the nations conquered during the Napoleonic Wars. These four largest nations did not care that some small nations became smaller or disappeared from the European map. Their participation in the Congress of Vienna established their hegemony and increased the land mass they owned or controlled. This meeting of states, which determined the fate of an aggressive state, was the first attempt by independent actors… middle of paper… rational actors were more likely to use diplomacy to resolve security dilemmas. States wished to avoid military response and formed new methods of consideration in foreign relations. The subsequent centuries have shown that greater awareness has emerged regarding the causes of security dilemmas. Although the examination and resulting theories of international politics have changed over the centuries, the fundamental security issues caused by anarchy have remained. Works Cited Chapman, Tim. Congress of Vienna: origins, processes and results. Florence, KY: Routledge, 1998.McKenzie, J. M. Partition of Africa, 1880-1900: And European Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century. Florence, KY: Routledge, 1983. Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. Shirkey, Zachary C. Is this a private fight or can anyone participate? Burlington: Ashgate Publishing House, 2009.