Dr. Izidor Janžekovič, PhD
PhD in Comparative History, Central European University, Budapest, Vienna
MSt in British and European History, From 1500 to Present, St Antony's College, University of Oxford
MPhil in History, Department of History, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
MPhil in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
BA in History, Department of History, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
BA in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
MSt in British and European History, From 1500 to Present, St Antony's College, University of Oxford
MPhil in History, Department of History, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
MPhil in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
BA in History, Department of History, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
BA in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
less
Uploads
Papers by Dr. Izidor Janžekovič, PhD
I examined key theorists who have an ambiguous attitude to one of the foundational principles of international
relations. The idea is prescriptive and descriptive at the same time, often used in both senses by the same writer
in the same text or even sentence. The first sense entails a conscious strategy, while the second sense entails an
automatic sociological law, independent from human action. In order to understand a particular writer correctly, it is
necessary to understand the context. I analyzed the main writers and mentions of the balance of power in the long
16th century, and put them in a wider political context.
Since the concept was so widespread in the early modern age, the contemporaries searched for its roots in
antiquity. The first unequivocal mention occurs in former diplomat and historian Francesco Guicciardini‘s History
of Italy. Within half a century until the end of the 16th century, it was translated into major European languages in
several editions. Writers clearly referred to Guicciardini when introducing the balance-of-power idea in their works
since they were even using Guicciardini‘s example of Lorenzo de‘ Medici as the prime balance-of-power adherent
and advocate. Unlike previous analyses, who gave credit for spreading the idea to Venetian diplomats, I have shown
that historians and literary works were far more important.
I examined key theorists who have an ambiguous attitude to one of the foundational principles of international
relations. The idea is prescriptive and descriptive at the same time, often used in both senses by the same writer
in the same text or even sentence. The first sense entails a conscious strategy, while the second sense entails an
automatic sociological law, independent from human action. In order to understand a particular writer correctly, it is
necessary to understand the context. I analyzed the main writers and mentions of the balance of power in the long
16th century, and put them in a wider political context.
Since the concept was so widespread in the early modern age, the contemporaries searched for its roots in
antiquity. The first unequivocal mention occurs in former diplomat and historian Francesco Guicciardini‘s History
of Italy. Within half a century until the end of the 16th century, it was translated into major European languages in
several editions. Writers clearly referred to Guicciardini when introducing the balance-of-power idea in their works
since they were even using Guicciardini‘s example of Lorenzo de‘ Medici as the prime balance-of-power adherent
and advocate. Unlike previous analyses, who gave credit for spreading the idea to Venetian diplomats, I have shown
that historians and literary works were far more important.