National
interest in international relations
Introduction
National
interest is one the basic objective of state’s existence and prior
responsibility of its foreign policy. There is no concept of nation state
without fulfilling these interests. But if we look into history these interests
varies with respect to situation, era, nation state, tenure, type of
government, leadership priorities, and even some times global world environment
decides these interests and nations sometime alter them according to world
demands. As during the cold war era both the super powers’ prime goal to detain
and contain each other at regional and global level. Even they imply every type
of strategies to fulfill their own interests on the behalf of other nations’. Hitler
justified German expansionist ambitions in the name of “German national
interests” by declaring and propagating Germans as Master Race and its Fascist
Strategy. The US always justified its decisions regarding development of more
and more destructive weapons in the interest of “US national interest.” Similarly
after the incidence of 9/11 many nations change their priorities and determine
their foreign policy objectives according to world.
So if we talk
about national interest, then various definitions of different scholars are
presented.
“The
meaning of national interest is survival—the protection of physical, political
and cultural identity against encroachments by other nation-states”—Morgenthau.
National
Interest is: “What a nation feels to be necessary to its security and well
being … National interest reflects the general and continuing ends for which a
nation acts.” —Brookings Institution
In sum National
Interests means claim, goals and objectives, requirements and interests which a
nation always tries to preserve, protect, defend and secure in relations with
other nations in international world.
Components of
National Interests
According to
Hans Morgenthau there are two basic components of national interests;
Vital or
necessarily components are the
fundamental objectives of foreign policy of a state for its survival or
identity. He sub-divides identity into three parts: Physical identity
(territorial identity). Political identity (politico economic
system) and Cultural identity (cultural heritage and historical
values). According to Hans a nation even
decides to go to war for securing or protecting her vital interests.
Whereas Non
vital or variable components are those parts of national interests
which are determined by circumstances or for achieving the vital component. Factors
like decision maker, public opinion, political parties and moral folkways play
important role in fulfilling and deciding national interests.
According to V.V.
Dyke the fundamental objective of foreign policy of a nation state is to fulfillment
its national interests. He classified those objectives into economic
prosperity, peace and security, ideological protection, justice and equality,
prestige and honor, aggrandizement, protection of sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
Classification
of national interest according to Thomas W. Robinson
Primary
interests those
interests where no nation can compromise and defend at any cost. It includes
the preservation of physical, political and cultural identity against possible
encroachments by other states.
Secondary
interests Interest are
less important then primary interest. It includes protection of the citizens of
a particular nation in foreign lands and ensuring of diplomatic immunities for
the diplomatic staff.
Permanent
interests these
interests refer to the relatively constant long-term interests of the state and
are subject to very slow changes. For example the US interest to preserve its
spheres of influence in international community and to maintain freedom of
navigation in all the oceans of the world is the examples of such interests.
Variable
interests are those
interests of a nation which are considered vital for national good in a given
set of circumstances. These are largely determined by “the cross currents of
personalities or leadership, public massive opinion, sectional interests,
partisan politics and political and moral folkways.”
General
interests. All those
interests which are applicable and acceptable by almost every nation of the
world. For example universal peace and disarmament.
Specific
interests. Those
interests which are determined by time and space. For example global war
against terrorism got first priority for US and Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Besides these
six categories of national interest, T.W. Robinson also refers to three international
interests—identical interests (those interests which are
common to a large number of states ;), complementary interests
(those interests, which though not identical, can form the basis of agreement
on some specific issues;) and conflicting interests. (Those
interests who are neither complementary nor identical).
This
classification is neither absolute nor complete. The complementary interests
can, with the passage of time, become identical interests and conflicting
interests can become complementary interests but the study of national interest
of a nation involves a deep understanding of all these vital and non-vital
components of national interest.
Methods of
securing national Interests
1. Diplomatic
measures:
Diplomacy
is the management of international relations by means of negotiations; the
method by which these relations are adjusted and managed by ambassadors and
envoys the business or art of the diplomats” —Harold Nicholson. “Diplomacy is
the inevitable outcome of the coexistence of separate political units (states)
with any degree of contact.” —Frankel
Diplomacy
seeks to convince others of the justification of the goals which it is trying
to uphold or promote by using either means like reward or punishment, use
threat or use of force—ultimatums, symbolic boycotts, protest walkouts or even
threat of war etc., propaganda, cultural links, exploitation of situations,
creation of particular scenes and situations, rigidity or flexibility in
negotiations etc. Morgenthau regards diplomacy as the most primary means.
However, all the objectives and goals of national interest cannot be secured
through diplomacy because when diplomacy fails there will be war.
2. Propaganda:
Propaganda is
the art of salesmanship. It is the art of convincing others about the justness
of the goals and objectives or ends which are desired to be secured. It
consists of the attempt to impress upon nations the necessity of securing the
goals which a nation wishes to achieve. “Propaganda is a systematic attempt to
affect the minds, emotions and actions of a given group for a specific public
purpose.” —Frankel
It is directly
addressed to the people of other states and its aim is always to secure the
self-interests—interests which are governed exclusively by the national
interests of the propagandist. The revolutionary development of the means of
communications (Internet) in the recent times has increased the scope of
propaganda as a means for securing support for goals of national interest.
3. Economic
Means:
The wide gap
between rich and poor nations gives a big opportunity to rich and developed
nations to use economic aid and loans as the means for securing their interests
in international relations. Small nations depend on industrialized advanced
nations for the import of industrial goods, technological know-how, foreign
aid, armaments and for selling raw materials. ,
4. Alliances
and Treaties:
Alliances and
Treaties are concluded by two or more states for securing their identical and
complementary interests. But conflicting interests may lead to alliances and
treaties of similar states against the common rivals or opponents. As during
the first world war Central powers allied against Allied powers. The nature of
an alliance depends upon the nature of interest which is sought to be secured.
Like NATO and Warshaw Pact are two military alliance of USA and USSR against
each other during cold war. Similarly, ASEAN, EU, BRICS are social and economic
alliance among nations.
5. Coercive
Means:
The role of
power in international relations is an unwritten law of international communication.
Intervention (both direct and indirect), Non-communication, embargoes,
boycotts, reprisals, retort, retaliation, severance of relations and pacific
biocides and if all such means could not produce desire results then next step
will be war or aggression. All these coercive means can be used by a nation to force others to
accept a particular course of behavior or to refrain from a course which is
considered harmful by the nation using coercive means.
Conclusion
While
fulfilling their national interests all nations must keep in mind the international
interests of Peace, Security, environmental protection, protection of human
rights and Sustainable Development, Peaceful coexistence, peaceful
conflict-resolution and purposeful mutual cooperation for development.
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