In the beginning of "Birth of Biopolitics", Foucault asserts that 17th century states operating under the logic of "Raison d'etat" intentionally avoided attempting to dominate other states to establish imperial control over all of Europe. I had always been under the impression that the lack of hegemony by one state in Europe during this time was more a result of Britain intentionally acting as a balancer in wars to prevent an overwhelming victory on either side.