Review of Previous Lecture- National Interests

• Interest
• National Interest
• Development of National Interest
Interest of church, interest of the ruling class, interest of the
people.
• Kinds of National Interest
1. Primary
2. Secondary
3. Permanent
4. Variable
5. General
6. Specific
National Interests cont.

Dr. Fayyaz Ahmad Faize

Types cont.
Besides there are some others types of interests as well:

1. Identical Interests: Interests which are held common or same

by different states
• US and Western Europe have this identical interest to prevent
expansion of communism in Europe,
• Climate protection, international peace

2. Conflicting Interests: Interests which are conflicting between

states
• Conflicting interest are not fixed and may change
• Jerusalem between Israel and Palestine, India’s interference
in Afghanistan affairs is not favorable with Pakistan
How to Promote NI?

NI can be promoted through the following methods:

1. Coercive method
2. Alliances
3. Diplomacy
How to Promote NI? cont.

1. Coercive method: ‫جبریطریقے‬

There are two categories according to Beard
i. Measures taken internally within the state indirectly affecting
the other state
ii. Measures taken directly
How to Promote NI? Cont.

i. Measures taken within the state indirectly affecting the other

the state against whom it is taken. It is then up to the other
state whether to ignore these measures taken or consider it
serious and give it a shape of war.
e.g. breaking up of diplomatic relations, expelling diplomatic staff
as persona non grata, trade embargo, confiscation of property,
freezing of bank’s account, suspension of treaties,
• US sanctions against Libya and Iran
ii. Measures taken directly against the state. This may include
the use of force, bombarding of coastal areas, exchange of fire
across border, shelling strategic areas etc.
• E.g. US attack on Iraq and Afghanistan
How to Promote NI? Cont.

2. Alliance ‫اہدہ‬C‫مع‬
The states may form an alliance to promote and protect their
common interests. The alliance gives strength and power to the
allied states to pursue the common interests on international
level.
Examples:
• NATO: for collective security of the capitalistic states against
communist block
• OIC for protecting Muslim countries interest
• For Economic interests, similar alliances can be made e.g.
European Union, General Agreement on Tariff and Trade,
World Economic Forum, ECO

https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ga/atlanta/resources/strategic-alliances-possibilities-through-collaboration
How to Promote NI? Cont.

3. Diplomacy
• The peaceful means of promoting national interest.
• Involves skillful negotiation and dialogues
• Dialogues b/w diplomats, ministers and even heads of state
• Even the conflicting interests can be resolved through
diplomacy by policy of give and take
• As war can not offer solution to problems and ultimately
negotiations provides the solution
• US diplomacy to win support against war in Afghanistan and
Iraq, Israel-Palestine issue and ceasefire through talks,
Kashmir problem persual through diplomatic channels,

http://talltown.us/guns/left.htm
National Interest and Foreign Policy
• Is there any relation between national interest and foreign
policy?
• NI is promoted and safeguarded through foreign policy
• As discussed national interests are pursued through force,
alliances and diplomacy
• And diplomacy is operated through foreign policy
• Foreign policy is the instrument through which national
interests are pursued and promoted
• Morgenthau: The foreign policy ‘seeks the defence of NI
through peaceful means’
• The government would never pursue a foreign policy which
would harm NI.
National Interest and Foreign Policy cont.

• When a government is formulating its foreign policy, it make a

list of all its national interests and goals
• The national interests of other states are also kept into
consideration. There may be identical or conflicting NI.
• The government would then design a foreign policy to pursue
its NI or bring modification and compromise in foreign policy
keeping in mind the need of the interest and the strength of its
national power in supporting her policy.
• E.g. one NI of US is the support of Israel in middle east which
is a conflicting interest with several Muslim states in the
region. However, US shows little compromise in her foreign
policy due to her status of being super power.
National Interest and Foreign Policy cont.

• One national interest of Pakistan is to establish friendly and

brotherly relations with Muslim countries because Pakistan is
an ideological state founded on the name of Islam. This NI is
then the guiding principle of Pakistan foreign policy.
• Some times, NI may result in conflict and tension in the
international world due to conflicting interests
• This kind of situation may lead to conflict or war
• In such case compromises and adjustment in NI is required
and thus modification in foreign policy as well
Summary
• Interest
• National Interest
• Development of National Interest
Interest of church, interest of the ruling class, interest of the
people.
• Kinds of National Interest
1. Primary
2. Secondary
3. Permanent
4. Variable
5. General
6. Specific
Summary cont.
How to Promote NI?
1. Coercive method
2. Alliances
3. Diplomacy
National Interest and Foreign Policy
• The foreign policy ‘seeks the defence of NI through peaceful means
• The government would never pursue a foreign policy which would
harm NI
• The national interests of other states are also kept into
consideration
• NI may result in conflict and tension in the international world due to
conflicting interests
• This kind of situation may lead to conflict or war
• modification in foreign policy
Review Questions

• Define national interest and discuss briefly its development.

• Explain the various types of national interest used in
international relations.
• What are the different methods for promoting national
interest?
• Explain how national interest and foreign policy are
interrelated?