The term is usually used for rhetorical purposes, and was probably coined by Lester Pearson in June 1955 at the 10th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter: "the balance of terror has replaced the balance of power".
It is believed to be coined by Lester Pearson in June 1955 at the 10th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, when he used this phrase "the balance of terror has replaced the balance of power".