Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
Here we will learn the topic Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
National Interest is the core foundation and driving force of a state’s foreign policy. It represents the survival, security, economic well-being, and power objectives that a country seeks to protect and promote in the global arena. In foreign policy, leaders often balance the national interest against the interests of other nations and international organisations. Different governments and political actors may have different views on what constitutes the national interest, and the national interest can change over time as a country’s circumstances and priorities change.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
Methods for Promotion of National Interests
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
In a broad sense, we use three methods for the promotion of national interests which are as follows:-
a) Coercive measures
b) Alliances
c) Diplomatic negotiations.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
Coercive Measures
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
The coercive measures adopted by the states for the enforcement of national interest broadly fall into two categories .
(i) The state takes measures that do not infringe directly upon it again. (ii) Enforcement procedures operate against measures that directly oppose the state. The acts falling in this category are of negative character, even though, they may produce positive effect.
Some of the important measures which falls in this category include acts of non-intercourse, embargoes, boycots, retaliation and reprisal, serverance of diplomatic relations etc.
The state can employ any one or all of these measures for the advancement and enforcement of its national interest.
Even though experts consider these measures coercive, they involve the use of physical force. History is replete with numerous examples when different states resorted to the display of force to enforce their national interest. The state can also take certain measures on its own soil to advance its national interest which ultimately operates against the enemy state. These include action like seizure and confiscation of the property of the offending state or its subjects by way of compensation in value for the wrong, suspension of operation of treaties, embargo of ships belonging to the offending states lying within its ports, seizure of ships at sea etc. All these methods are prime facie act of war. The state must determine whether it wants to engage in war or not. In extreme form these measures can take the shape of actual bombardment of coastal areas or military occupation of an inland centre.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
Alliances
Nations conclude alliances for the protection and promotion of common interests. As a result of the alliance, member states become duty bound to discharge the legal obligation to protect these common interests. These nations may conclude alliances for the protection of a large variety of national interests. Their nature and the duration depend on the nature of the interest that entities seek to protect. According to Prof. Robinson, “The advantage of pursuing the national interests through alliances, of course, lies in the translation of inchoate, common or complementary interest into common policy and in bringing the nation’s power directly to bear on questions of national interest.” Relation of Alliances to National Interests
Prof. Morgenthau has advanced the following propositions regarding the relations of alliance to national interests.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
(i) Duration
The degree of generality of common interests expressed in alliance are related to the duration of the alliance. Thus the general alliances will be of short duration while the limited alliance shall be long-lasting.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
(ii) Primacy
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
The relative degree of primacy of national interests expressed in an alliance is inversely proportional to the power of the nation. Thus a weak and a strong nation will enter into alliance to defend the primary and secondary interests respectively.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
(iii) Strength
The weaker partner of alliance is dependent on the stronger one and is tolerated as long as there is complete identity of interests between the two.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
(iv) Interest
Even if an alliance is based on equality it will not succeed unless there is identity of interests.
(v) Balance
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.
(vi) Cohesion
The degree of cohesion of an alliance depends on the community of interests felt by the participants.
(vii) Legal Ties
It is not essential that every community of interests should be given the shape of an alliance because the legal ties between two nations cannot overbalance the national interests of the nation.
(viii) Ideology
Ideology can help in strengthening the bonds of an alliance provided the alliance is based on common or complementary interests. If there is no community of interests in the alliance, the alliance based on ideology alone cannot be effective.
(ix) Common Enemy
Finally, the alliance built by the nations against a third country or common enemy are generally vague and lack concrete objectives.
Diplomatic Negotiations
Diplomatic negotiations are used to reconcile the divergent interests of the state through the process of “mutual give and take.” These prove fruitful only if the interests of concerned states are complementary or compatible. In such cases an agreement can be reached through mutual bargaining.
The case of incompatible or conflicting interests negotiations are virtually impossible.
In the larger interests of the international community the states must try to protect certain common interests, for example, they
must avoid use of nuclear weapons. They should not resort to war in view of the highly destructive nature of these weapons. The people must realise that the outbreak of a war will not only mean the possibility of their defeat but
also destruction of the domestic society and civilization. They must prefer diplomacy over war.
Explain the methods adopted for the promotion of National Interests.
