1. National Interests
Dr. Fayyaz Ahmad Faize

2. Summary Meaning and concept of Power Definition of National Power
Components of National Power
Population
Technology
Geography
National Character and Morale
Economic Development
Leadership
Diplomacy
Ideology
Military Preparedness
Natural Resources

3. Summary Limitations on National Power Balance of Power
International Morality
World Public Opinion
Disarmament
International Organization

4. National Interests (NI)
Concept and definition
Development
Types of national interests
How to promote national interest?
National Interest and Foreign Policy

5. Interest Princes rule People and interests rule princes (Rohan)
The politicians used the term to seek support for their action and policies esp. in external affairs

6. Interest A man has interest Personal interests
A nation being collection of men also has interest
National interests
Q. What is a man’s personal interest?
security of life, property, money, fame, name, self-esteem etc.
Q. What may be national interest?
Something similar to above as it is collection of men
e.g.
Security of nation, security of land, economic development, international recognition, prosperity

7. National Interest The concept is very vague and unclear
Difficult to know exactly a state’s national interests
Brooking’s Institute: National interest is ‘the general and continuing ends for which a nation acts’
Dyke: the interest which the states seek to protect or achieve in relation to each other
Morgenthau: ‘A country’s national interests is proportional to its capacities’
The greater the capacity, the more the national interests e.g. US
Marx: National interests is a hoax. There are no national interests, there are only class interests.

8. Development of National Interest
Has a recent growth
In the early middle ages:
National interest was linked with the interest of church.
The state must struggle to protect church and its faith
All laws shall be in conformity with church’s teachings
No law or even scientific knowledge or inquiry shall be against church’s teaching

9. Development cont.
After peace of Westphalia and the Protestant struggle for reforming church
The power of church was weakened and secular forces won
The king/prince became independent
Church has no role now in governmental affairs
The national interest was now regarded as interest of the ruling class-the prince/monarch
These include protection of ones’ kingdom from other claimant
Protection and expansion of territory of state
Protection and strengthening of the ruling dynasty/royal family

10. Development cont. Struggle between Monarch and democratic forces
Victory of people/parliament over Monarch
National interest shifted from the interest of monarch to interest of the people…….interest of the nation ….national interest

11. Kinds of National Interest
According to Robinson: 6 categories of national interests
Primary
Secondary
Permanent
Variable
General
Specific

12. 1. Primary Interest
The first and the most important interest-crucial for existance
A state must defend them at all cost
No compromise or negotiation is possible
Its protection is very sacred and all kinds of sacrifice is made
Examples:
Protection of land/borders/
Protection of all people living in the state (all diverse groups, minorities etc.)
protection and preservation of political institution (whether democratic, monarchic),
protection and preservation of culture (language, literature, art, architecture, norms, values, customs, traditions etc.)

13. 2. Secondary Interests
Comes after primary interest and thus are important
Protection of citizens in foreign countries
Ensuring diplomatic immunities for the diplomatic staff and their protection

14. 3. Permanent Interests
Refers to long term interest which remain constant for longer period of time
The change in permanent interest is rather slow as a rapid change can invite resistance and resentment from ruling class, people, army, pressure groups etc.
Example: Britain permanent interest was to ensure freedom of navigation in the oceans to maintain control on her colonies and her trade
US developed a permanent interest in the gulf region to control and regulate oil reservoir and supply
Muslim states have a permanent interest in Holy places in Saudi Arab; Jews in Jerusalem

15. 4. Variable Interests Interests that may change and are not constant
The interest may change due to:
Change in government (conservative vs liberal)
change in leader/ruler, (new prince/king coming to power)
Change in the situation prevailing at that time (Energy crises in Pakistan require government to give priority to investment in dams and other power projects such as Iran gas pipe project)
Change in public opinion due to some event/need (India’s nuclear explosion in 1998 intensified a public opinion in Pakistan for same test at that time)
Pressure due to other political parties (In Turkey, victory of Islamic party brought many changes in the government against secular parties)

16. Variable interest cont.
US interest in Pakistan during cold war and then ignoring Pakistan after USSR disintegration. Then again attention after 9/11 when the World Trade Center was attacked.

17. 5. General Interests
Refers to interests that are related to large number of nations
They may be related to multilateral trade, diplomacy, power etc.
Example: Britain general interest was to maintain balance of power in Europe continent
All Muslim countries general interest in Saudi Arabia due to holy places

18. Specific Interests Interest of specific/special nature of a state
Pakistan specific interest of friendly relations with Arab states,
bilateral trade (Afghan Transit Trade)

19. Summary Interest National Interest Development of National Interest
Interest of church, interest of the ruling class, interest of the people.
Kinds of National Interest
Primary
Secondary
Permanent
Variable
General
Specific