NATIONAL INTEREST AND FOREIGN POLICY SSA2024 TOPIC 5 NATIONAL INTEREST AND FOREIGN POLICY

"every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests "every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.“ (President Kennedy)

WHAT IS NATIONAL INTEREST? “national interest is the perceived needs and desires of one sovereign state in relation to other sovereign states comprising the external environment” (Morgenthau, 1988) “National interests are needs, aims or desires conveyed to policymakers by the citizens of a country”

National interest is a key concept in foreign policy (Frankel, 1972) Every nation has a set of objectives or goals which gives life and meaning to the behavior of such nation in international relations.

Why do governments do the things they do The answer is ‘National Interest’ “I cannot forecast to you the actions of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest” (Winston Churchill).

WHAT IS NATIONAL INTEREST, THEN? Things that may be essential to the survival and wellbeing of the nation as a whole. SECURITY/DEFENCE INTEREST protecting national borders ensuring the safety of citizens protecting allies maintaining military power Nuechterlein (1976)

ECONOMIC Ensuring eco development & growth Trade relations with other nations Protecting eco investment abroad

IDEOLOGY Promoting/protecting moral way of life Advancing/protecting universal conception of freedom, justice & human dignity

U.S BASIC NATIONAL INTEREST 1. Physical survival and safety of the United States and its people. After 9-11, U.S security required protection from attacks by non-state organizations.

2. Human development of the American people economic well-being of the U.S

Survival of the political and cultural values American FP supported three aspects of value structure – democracy, human rights, and aid to those in need. Survival of the political and cultural values

National interest are divided into 2 categories: Vital/core interest most important from the point of view of country’s foreign policy unwilling to make any compromise Less than vital/ secondary interest aims of a state that they make efforts to fulfill, but refrain from going to war or creating animosity with other states Nuechterlein, 1976

DECIDING NATIONAL INTERESTS 1. Proximity of the dangers defence and world order interests, more than to eco and ideological interests. nation's feeling of security influenced by the distance of the threat from its own borders. E.g: 1960s - Americans were disturbed by Castro's turning Cuba into a Communist state, but little concerned about similar events in Laos.

2. Economic stake Nation’s commerce and investment E.g: The U.S foreign policy pivot to Asia driven by economic factor. To protect economic interest in Asia.

3. National prestige Major and superpowers country the power was humiliated because it could not achieve a goal on which it has staked its prestige. E.g: The United States decline in credibility after the fall of Vietnam in 1975.

4. World Reaction Condemnation by other states, if the issue is taken to the UN, E.g: Russian annexation of Crimea condemned by the international community.

5. The likelihood of success even if the issue is so important that it cannot be compromised and is, will the FP bring the desired result? E.g: When China intervened in Korea in 1950, President Truman want to use atomic bomb to halt the Chinese, but was persuaded European allies and domestic opinion that the move not a wise move.

LINKAGE BETWEEN NATIONAL INTEREST AND FP FP are justified because they further national interest of nation states. Goal that advance interest of certain individual/group not eligible for state’s FP

FP goal/objective to be in national interest must promote welfare of the country. The FP of every country at all times designed to promote national interest.

NATIONAL INTERESTS VS OTHER INTERESTS The National Interest VS Societal Interest   1. MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX policy and monetary relationships between legislators, armed forces, and the arms industry. The arms industry & armed forces influenced the U.S involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

pluralism’s impact on FP. 2. INTEREST GROUP interest groups can gain control of a state’s FP through a process of building coalitions. pluralism’s impact on FP.

CONCLUSION National interest is a key concept in foreign policy. formation and execution of FP is determined by the national interest of a nation every nation has a set of objectives/goals which gives life and meaning to the behavior in international relations.