NATIONAL INTEREST

IN INTERNATIONAL RELATION
GROUP MEMBERS
Memoona Manzoor
Mothara Mobeen
Nimra Shahzadi
Kaneez Fatima
Asma Noreen
Contents Of National Interest
 Approaches (Objectivist & Subjectivist)
 Development Concept Of National Interest
 Kinds Of National Interest
 International Interest
 Methods For The Promotion Of National Interests
 National Interest And Foreign Policy
 Constraints/Limitations on National Interest
National Interest:
Morganthau different term for
N.I:-
National Interest is a technical term and has many
meanings. National Interest reason for the relations
between states. No permanent friend/enemy relations
are based on national interest.
Morganthau used common interest, conflicting
interest, vital, material and mutual interest for
national interest.
Approaches By Prof. Frankel
 Subjectivist:
 Objectivist:
 In this category he
 In this category he includes
included those definitions
all those approaches which
which seeks to interpret
view national interest as a
national interest as a
concept which can be
constantly changing
defined or examined with
pluralistic set of subjective
the help of some definable
references.
criteria.
National Interest Definition After
Approaches:

National Interest is the permanent guide of action for

state. These are general long term and continuous
goals to which every state or government claim to
achieve.
 Development Concept of N.I:
1) Ancient times: In the early ancient times the laws of Christianity
formed the basis of these relations and the states were expected to
ensure that their laws etc conformed to these principles.

2) Medivial Period: In this time period the national interest were

equated with the interest of a particular prince of the ruling
dynasty.

3) Modern Ages: Concept of democracy was evolved in this period

which means that the honor of the Prince was replaced by the
honor of the nation. Thus the concept passed from the feudal and
monarchical system to the republic and democratic system and
soon gained a common usage in the political and diplomatic
literature.
 Kinds of National Interest
Thomas W.Robbinson gave classified national interest into six
categories:

Primary Interest: These interests include preservation of

state security and independence free from external interference,
physical, social and cultural identity. These are permanent
interests and no compromise of these interest is possible.

Secondary Interest: They are less important then first one

but still are vital the existence of state. It includes the protection
of diplomatic staff in other states.

Specific Interest: Through the logical outgrowth of the

general interest are defined in terms of time or space.
•Permanent Interest: It refers to the relatively constant and
long term interest of the state. The chance in the permanent
interest, if any, is rather slow. For example UK & USA struggle
for establishing free markets.

•Variable Interest: Variable interest are those interest of a

nation which a nation considers vital for national good in a
given set of circumstances. These are determined greatly by
state leaders public opinion or some political parties. They may
be different from the primary & secondary interest.

•General Interest: It refers to those positive conditions,

which apply to a large number of nations or in several specified
fields such as economics, trade, diplomatic & intercourse etc.
National Interests:
Classified into three types:

Identical Interest: which are held in common by a

number of states.

Complementary Interest: which through not

identical, can from the basis of agreement on some
specific issues.

Conflicting Interest: are not fixed and undergo a

change due to the force of events and diplomacy.
 National Interest And Foreign Policy

Foreign policy is guided by national interests. It is a pre-dominant

factor in the formation of foreign policy.
The foreign policy of a state can be based on national interest only if
the interests of the various nations are homogenous.
There are some factors responsible for making foreign policies:
1. Geographical position of state
2. Strategic importance of state
3. Natural resources
4. Industrial capacity of the country
5. Demographics of the state
 Importance Of National Interest In
Foreign Policy

Consequently, it has a very important relation with foreign

policy, with the help of which it tries to achieve its goals. The
main purpose of foreign policy is to conduct foreign relations
to protect national interests and promote them to the best
possible advantage.
Methods for the Promotions of N.I
 Coercive Measures: adopted by the states for the
enforcement of national interest broadly fall into two categories:

• Non violent measures: The measure taken within the state

which do not infringe directly upon the state against whom they
are taken.

• Violent measures: The measure directly operating against the

state which are the object of enforcement procedure. These
measures involve the use of physical force.
 Diplomatic Negotiations:
Diplomacy is the term used for the indication of some give and take
on divergent interests of states. Diplomatic Negotiations prove
fruitful only if the interests of concerned states are complementary or
compatible.

 Propaganda:
Propaganda is a systematic attempt to affect the minds,
emotions and actions of a given group for a specific public
purpose. It is important methods for securing national
interest. It is the art of convincing others about the justness
of the goals and objectives or ends which are desired to be
secured.
 Alliances:
Alliance are generally concluded by two or more nations
for the protection and promotion of common interests.
Nature and duration of alliances are dependent on kind of
interests.
To understand this relationship Morganthau gives some
assumption:
1. The category of common interests is directly related to the
duration of alliance.
2. Types of interests are inversely proportional to the states
power usually in any interest of powerful state are always
secondary while the interest of weak states are always
primary.
3. Usually alliances are between weak and powerful states
rarely among the equal states.
4. Even if an alliance is based on equality it will not succeed
unless there is identity of interests.
5. A one sided alliance in which one party receives the
benefits and the other party carries most of the burden, can
be concluded only if there are complementary interests.
6. A strong alliance must have similar ideologies.
Constraints/Limitations on National
Interests
• Sub-national
ethnic population within state which considers their own interests
more important than national interests(Below the national level).
• National
Multinational companies force Pakistan to keep the relations with
some companies for the maintenance of business and economy ,
NGO’S.
• Supra-National
To mold the national interests
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