NATIONAL INTERESTS

National interest is a key concept in International Relations, it is the main point of

realism. It is used by statemen and scholars of the state for the sake of nation.

ORIGIN
The word ‘interest’ is derived from Latin language and it means “concerns”.

Charles Bears wrote the first book on national interest in 1930.

No one can speak about the national interests without reference to the values even they
are selected by all members of the given society.

DEFINITIONS
Different scholars describe the term national interests in various ways;

 According to Morgenthau, “The meaning of national interest is survival-the

protection of physical, political and cultural identity against encroachments by
other nation-states”
 Charles Bears focused on the notion of territory and commerce as they are
defining features of national interests.
 The national interest is, “The general, long term and continuing purpose which
state, the nation and government all see themselves as serving” .— (Abdul
said.)
 According to Brookings Institution, “What a nation feels to be necessary to its
security and well being,,, National interests reflect the general and continuing
ends for which a nation acts”.
 “The values, desires and interests which states seek to protect or achieve in
relation to each other. It means desires on the part of sovereign states. (Vernon
Von Dyke)

What is National Interest?

National interest can also be defined as claims, objectives, goals, demands and interest
which a nation tries to preserve, protect, defend and secure in relation with other
nations.

 National interests commonly include;

 Preservation
 Independence (sovereignty)
  Economic well being
 Military security

KINDS OF NATIONAL INTEREST

There are six kinds of national interest which are described as following;

1. Primary Interests
The primary interests of a nation include the preservation of physical, political and
Cultural identity of the state against possible encroachments from outside powers.
These interests are permanent and the state must defend these at all costs. No
compromise of these interests is possible.

2. Secondary Interests
The Secondary Interests are also important but less than primary interests. These
include the protection of the citizens abroad and ensuring of diplomatic immunities for
the diplomatic staff. These interests are quiet vital for the existence of the state.

3. Permanent Interests
Permanent Interests refer to the constant and longterm interests of the state. If the
change in the permanent interests, is very slow. One example of this type of national.
interest. is provided by the determination of Britain to maintain freedom of navigation
during the past few centuries for the protection of her overseas colonies and growing
trade.

4. General Interests
The general interests of a nation refer to those positive conditions that can be applied to
a large number of nations or in specified fields such as economic, trade and diplomatic
intercourse etc. for example it was the general national interest of Britain to maintain
balance of the European Continent.

5. Variable Interests
The variable Interests refer to those Interests of a nation that a state considers
necessary for a national good in a given set of circumstances. In this sense the variable
interests can diverge from both Primary and Permanent Interests. The variable Interests
of a state are largely determined by the Personalities, Public opinion, Sectional
Interests, Partisan Politics and Political and Moral folk ways. Variable interests are also
very important for the state and varies from time to time
 Quotation

“ In pursuit of national interests, there is no permanent

enemies or allies but permanent interest.”

6. Specific Interests
The Specific Interests actually the logical outgrowth of the general interests. General
interests are defined in terms of time or space. For example, Britain has considered it a
specific national interest to maintain the independence of the lower countries for the
sake of preservation of balance of power in Europe.

 International Interests
The Identical Interests
The Identical Interests refer to Interests that are held in common by a number of states.
For example, both United States and Britain have been interested that Europe should
not be dominated by any single power.

The complementary Interests

The Complementary Interests of the nations refer to those interests that are not
common they can form the basis of agreements on some specific issues. For example,
Britain was interested in the independence of Portugal against Spain because Britain
wanted to control the region of the Atlantic Ocean. Likewise, Portugal was interested in
the British seaside authority because this was a safe means of defense against Spain.

The conflicting Interests

The Interests other than identical and complementary interest fall in the category of
conflicting interests. It may be noted that the conflicting interests are not fixed and
undergo a change due to the force of events and diplomacy. Thus, the present time
conflicting interests may become complementary interests. So complementary interests
and identical Interest can also get transformed into conflicting Interests.

Methods for Promotion of National Interest

1. Coercive Measures
2. Embargo
3. Blockade
4. Foreign Aid
5. Tariff, Restriction and Quotas
6. Sanctions
 7. Alliances
8. Diplomatic Negotiations
9. Economic aid
10. Propaganda
Some methods are described as following;

Economic Aid
Economic aid also plays very important role in the promotion and protection of national
interests. For example, big powers of the world provide economic aid and loans to the
poor and less developed countries to promote their national interests. US aid to Europe
under Marshal Plan, USSR aid to Eastern Europe, China's aid to India and Pakistan and
US aid to Pakistan against terrorism are the best examples of this kind.

Propaganda
Propaganda can be used as an effective instrument for the promotion of national
interests. According to Frankel,

"Propaganda is a systematic attempt to effect the minds, emotions and actions of a

given group for a specific public purpose".

The importance of propaganda as a method has greatly increased due to development

in the means of communications. USA propaganda against Muslim world is the best
example for this term.

Alliances
Alliances are generally concluded by two or more nations for the protection of common
interests. As a result of the alliance the protection of these common interests becomes
a legal duty because that the member states are duty bound to discharge. These
alliances may be concluded for the protection of large variety of national interests.
NATO, CENTO and SEATO are the best examples of Alliances.

Diplomatic Negotiations
Diplomatic negotiations are also important methods for the promotion and protection of
national interests. It involves the transmission of messages between foreign ministers
of the sending and host states. It is a technique of controlling arguments that normally
occur between delegations of officials representing different states. Negotiation takes
place with a view to achieve certain objectives.

Foreign Aid
When a state transfers money, goods, services or technical support , military aid to
other countries that are termed as foreign aid. It is one of the most important
instruments of the promotion of national interest. The process of giving and receiving
foreign aid started just after the end of WW2.
Sanctions
This kind of punishment is considered to be most effective but it is the least effective
weapon in international community for the protection and promotion of national
interests. It means total or partial boycott of the trade, investment, aid, grants and other
economic relations.

1. UN sanctions against South Africa on the ground of racial discrimination.

2. UN sanctions against Iraq 1990-91.

Role of National Interests and Foreign Policy

The main purpose of foreign policy is to conduct foreign relations to protect national
interests and promote them to the best possible benefits. Hence, it is important that
the national interests of different nations must be compatible with each other in
the interest of global harmony and peace.

 Defense of state is primary concern of foreign policy, which is also a national

interest.
 Promotion of economic interests including securing favorable conditions of trade
is also main objective of foreign policy making.
 Maintenance of international peace.
Reference
 National Interest and International Interest Part 1
 International Relations by Amir Mahar
 www.academia.edu.pk