National Interest- A Geopolitical Instrument for Strategic Leverage?

Just as money is the core concept in economics, power in politics, similarly, national interest is the nucleus in the subject of international relations. National interest serves as means to achieve the end goals of a state. It expresses a state’s objectives, purpose, and aspirations in the realm of international affairs. From the U.S President Trump’s ambitious “Make America Great Again,” to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ‘China Dream', to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Nation First’ approach, underscores the significance of national interest in the parlance of world leaders to attain their national goals.

Illustration by The Geostrata

Being an important part of the strategic lexicon of international relations, national interest can be deemed as the desirable goal of a particular nation in the international arena. However, under the banner of national interest, the statesmen, policymakers, diplomats, bureaucrats tend to execute actions that would otherwise be criticised. It has become a tool to justify their actions and policies, often bending the concept to fit their larger agenda. This article analyses the significance of national interests, and its manipulation by the world leaders to promote their objectives, and possible resolution to avoid misinterpretation.

WHAT IS NATIONAL INTEREST

National interest is the most fundamental term in the discourse of international relations. In layman’s terms it can be anything that is deemed ‘good’ for the nation, and serves the greater purpose. As per Dictionary of Diplomacy, “National interest is deemed by a particular state to be a vital or desirable goal in its international relations.”

Realist theorist Hans Morgenthau defines, “National interest as survival that includes protection of physical, political and cultural identity against encroachments by other nation-states.” 

In brief, a country’s national interest translates into its priorities of security, economic stability, territorial integrity, cultural preservation, and highlights why a state behaves in a certain way.

INSTRUMENT OF NATIONAL INTEREST AND THEIR MANIPULATION 

First key aspect that determines national interest is security and defence. Security is a fundamental reason which translates as the priority of national interest. In realist theory, three fundamental elements are state, survival, and self-help. For any state, its survival is of utmost importance and states must rely on their capabilities to meet their security needs in order to pursue their interests. In pursuit of security, a state may take any necessary action for its survival. For example, Iran’s quest for proliferating its nuclear capabilities is often termed by Iran as its objective to safeguard itself from its adversaries. 

The Iranian regime claims the nuclear program as a priority under its national interest. Iran’s national security policy highlights its regional priorities such as changing power structure in West Asia and eliminating the influence of the US, Israel, which often translates into an Iranian backing to terror groups and other non-state actors in the region. This provides an understanding of Iran’s manipulation of the idea of national interest to fit its malign actions under the banner of ‘security.’ 

After security issues, economic growth often takes a second place in order of precedence under a state’s list of national interest priorities. For any nation, having a stable and prosperous economic development is an essential factor.

States are indeed power maximisers, and in the 21st century, power often translates to economic prowess. Take example of President Trump’s announcement of imposing tariffs on several nations such as China, Canada, and Mexico. He implies that tariffs would give a boost to the American economy and moreover, protect the country from crises such as drugs trade and immigration. For President Trump, tariffs are instrumental towards balanced trade relations and which he believes would bolster the American economy.

As nations aim to preserve and protect its geographic borders, the third crucial aspect involves territorial expansion. Under Xi Jinping’s “Chinese Dream” of rejuvenating the Chinese nation, he puts forth a plan to modernise China, making it a developed nation by 2049. In order to prosper, and to establish ‘Pax Sinica’ in Asia, China has introduced and executed several plans and projects. 

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a flagship project by the Chinese to accomplish regional dominance, and beyond. Under the pretext of national interest, it has violated the territorial sovereignty of India by constructing highways on its territory in the Karakoram ranges. Likewise, China, to expand its influence, has violated the territorial and maritime sovereignty of multiple nations in its neighbourhood by laying illegitimate claims to a majority of the South China Sea.

The quest for national interest and goals can be, at times, in a negative conception. Such as an obsession over a certain territory. Since its inception, Pakistan has been fixated on Kashmir, despite the region being an integral part of India. To achieve its goals, Pakistan has been harbouring terror groups and terrorists, indoctrinating Kashmiri youth into militancy, and funnelling money to destabilise India, especially Kashmir’s security.

The recent terror attack in Pahalgam highlights Pakistan’s obsession with Kashmir, which has shaped its reputation of being “centre of global terrorism.” This approach of Pakistan’s territory ambitions has resulted in internal dysfunction, leading to precarious economic, political, and social conditions in the country.

Many world leaders term their hawkish approaches for power maximisation as the objective for national interest.

With multitudes of definitions, and without a clear one, the ambiguity of what constitutes national interest is often violated, and manipulated. The leaders find this a better excuse to avoid further critical discourse. This is highlighted through the above instruments of defence, economic growth, or territorial expansion. The ambiguity in the term national interest is a playout according to the whims and fancies of world leaders. As a result, what is deemed as “national interest” can possibly shape the geopolitical environment based upon the decisions of the global leadership, by making it the most contentious concept in global politics.

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BY ARYA GHADIGAONKAR

TEAM GEOSTRATA

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