U3AOS2: NATIONAL INTEREST
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
REGIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
INTERNATIONAL STANDING
a large part of national interest is engaging in trade with other states, as a state with little money or resources cannot support its people
a state's interest in maintaining positive interactions between itself and its geographic neighbours. having strong regional relationships can help facilitate other national interests such as international standing, economic prosperity, and national security
a state's interest in maintaining a good reputation within the broader international community, and the national brand that a state broadcasts through its actions to the global stage and via the transfer of its culture, values, beliefs, and ideals to the rest of the world in the hope that the state can then leverage this favourable reputation to achieve its aims
NATIONAL SECURITY
examples
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the u.s influence on the imf as the largest funder and largest voting block
china's belt and road initiative
china’s use of chequebook diplomacy
china’s use of economic power to coerce the solomon islands into recognising the prc and entering a security agreement
cultural links
regional neighbours cooperate based on shared values systems, historical ties, strong people-to-people connections, and bonds that promote a unity of purpose and foster alliances
reciprocity
regional neighbours share common interests and invest in forging productive partnerships (usually linked to mutually beneficial names)
strategic rivalry
regional neighbours compete for regional dominance (can lead to strained relations, increased tensions, and even the outbreak of hostilities)
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IDEALISM
PRAGMATISM
refers to a school of thought in which foreign policy is influenced above all else by an ideological principle, as opposed to practical and pragmatic considerations
if a neighbour increases it’s military or a new geopolitical power emerges, a state's national security is threatened. threats to national security can be external or internal
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idealists believe that political decision making should be based on core values
ideological actors will uphold their values and ideals in any situation
idealists seek a more harmonious world based on moral principles which are underpinned by laws and customs
they support international organisations like the united nations and believe that international diplomacy is a way in which the world can progress past the anarchy between states
an idealist actor would see a global crisis in a far away state and decide to help, because they believe it is within their national interest as it will create a more cooperative and cohesive global community
a school of though in which foreign policy is influenced above all else by practical considerations, as opposed to a particular ideology
examples.
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Australia withdraws ambassadors from Indonesia following the Bali 9 executions.
australia bans live cattle exports to indonesia
Australia challenges China on the treatment of Uighur muslims.
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pragmatism is the theory that political decisions should be guided by the situation and context
pragmatic actors are willing to be flexible, compromise, and negotiate on their core values - depending on the situation
a pragmatist is more suspicious of global institutions of governance and sees the state as the most powerful and central global actor
a pragmatist would believe that a state's actions are right if those actions advance the national interest of the state. for a pragmatist the national interest is not what is right or wrong but what is beneficial.
examples
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The pragmatic approach led the Chinese communist party to adopt free market reforms from the 1970s. ‘Whether a white cat or a black cat, as long as it can catch mice, it's a good cat’.
us does not ratify the rome statute.
Germany continues to buy Russian gas.
“The destination is more important than the journey itself.
“The journey is just as important as the destination.
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‘national interest’ is a subjective term and can change depending on who retains power within a state.
A state’s national interest in an autocracy remains stable (such as in Russia or China); however a state’s national interest can change depending on the government in power in democratic systems.
For example, Australia’s national interest with regard to climate change, has in the past, been viewed very differently depending on the political party in power.
Even in autocratic states, what constitutes the national interest is often debated.
south china sea
control of uighur muslims
south china sea is rich with resources therefore having sovereignty of the area will be beneficial to china's economic prosperity