Balance of payments: Measurement of a country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world.  There are three principal components: the current account, the capital account, and the overall account.  If the balance of payments is at a sustainable level, the country is in a state of external equilibrium.  (TIID, 1997)

Balance of power: Conflict management method in international relations counter-balancing the hegemonic tendencies of any single power by an alliance or realignment among other states. A balance of an interstate power system is generally considered stable if no single state achieves a dominant position, the independence of the great powers is assured, and major wars are avoided. (Levy 1992; cited by Schmid 1998: http://www.fewer.org/pubs.thes.htm)

Balkanization: To break up into small, hostile units, as happened to the Balkan states (Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Turkey and Romania) after World War I. A more recent example occurred in Lebanon during the 1980s, when the country split up into many warring factions with no central authority. The term "Lebanonization" was used for a while as the equivalent of balkanization. (Fast Times 1999: http://www.fast-times.com/political.html)

Bargaining: Process of give and take during negotiations, beginning with a first offer (entry point) from each side and ending –if negotiations are not aborted–  with final offers (exit points). Agreements may be reached by compromising on each single issue or by trading concessions on one issue for 'exchanging points' by the other side on another. Homan's Theorem states that the more the items at stake can be divided into goods valued more by one party than they cost to the other, and goods valued more by the other party than they cost to the first, the greater the chances of successful outcomes. (Homans, 1961; cited by Schmid 1998: http://www.fewer.org/pubs/thes.htm)

Basic needs: Minimum requirements of a community for a decent standard of life: adequate food, shelter, and clothing plus some household equipment and furniture. They also include essential services provided by and for the community-at-large such as safe drinking water, sanitation, health and education facilities, protection against human rights violations and gainful employment. (Welsh & Butorin 1990: 98)

Bhutanization: A term coined from the experience of Bhutan to describe a small state that has been semi-absorbed by a larger one.  (Hettne 1993: 138)

Bottom up: This term refers to participatory development involving beneficiaries in the design and implementation of development activities from the very inception of that process.  (Tisch and Wallace 1994: 161)

Brinkmanship: In political diplomacy or negotiation, the art of taking big risks, even to the brink of war, hoping the adversary will back down. Brinkmanship can be a way of testing an adversary's resolve.  Much of brinkmanship consists of bluffing, but it can be a dangerous game to play if either side misinterprets the moves of the other. (Fast Times 1999: http://www.fast-times.com/political.html)