National interests versus Foreign policy

The world has now become a global village where countries of the word interact with each other. Through this interaction each nation or state will be trying to fulfill the needs of its people and for this to be achieved policies are made to ensure that these goals are achieved. In this write up the writer is going to define what is national interest and also foreign policy and costly to link how national interest leads to the formation of foreign policy.

Nuechteriein (2000) defines nation interest as a set of goals a nation or country strives for in the world as contrasted with its domestic need and priorities. Each country or state has its own national interest which is different from the other. National interest is often associated with political realists who wish to differentiate their policies form idealistic policies that seek either to inject morality into foreign policy or promote solutions that rely on multilateral institutions which might weaken the independence of the state. National interest as a concept is sued in both political analysis and political action.  

Different forces and people interpret national interest differently to suit their own personal and partisan agenda. United States of America and all major powers display four basic interests which are defence of home which encompasses territory, citizens and political system, to economic well being which involves economic stability and living standards, favorable world order which is the appraisal of international security and lastly promotion of values which is American democracy and human rights. Doyle (1986) state that these are long term interests and each rises and declines over decades.

Understanding national interest is a serious political issue. In many countries national interests are considered a straight forward part of modern society and few people doubt their rationality. Regardless of whether, the understanding of national interests is correct, or not statesmen still  view national interests as a basis for making foreign policy for a country. Reynolds (1984) argues that national interests should relate to real interest of people and these interests of people and these interest are not to be seen as being necessarily contained within the state context.

According to Clinton (1986) the foreign policy of a country can be defined as a set of goals that seek to outline how that country will interface at an official level with other countries of the world and to a lesser extent, with non-state actors in pursuit of its national economic political and cultural interests. Morgenthan (1968) went further to say that the country’s foreign policy also called the foreign relations policy consists of self interested strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve goals with its international relations.

Every nation has a foreign policy to ensure that its needs are represented in the global community. However, throughout history including recently such as during and after the cold war has been used in international scene to push forward national interests and agendas, sometimes without any regard to the nations and people they may directly to indirectly affect. This has sometimes resulted in a rise in resentment against some of these nations who are then seen as bullies getting away with many acts of hypocrisy. Gideon (1998) pointed out that in the increasingly small global community; national interests do not necessarily mean that they are good for international community. Mearsheiner (1990) further stated that the United Nations an international body to tackle various global concerns, as an example has constantly been abused by those who have power to act unilaterally when the international community’s views and opinions do not agree with own national interests.

Theoretically, the process of foreign policy formulation should begin with clear definition of national interests followed by a delineation of the policies and the course of action by the various departments and agencies that would further those policies as well as the allocation of the resources needed to carry them out in practice. System is likely to produce a cohesive, variable and interest is a cluster of particular staffs involved may have very different views to what it should be. Foyle (2003) stated that it is clear that foreign policy is not the prerogative of a few members of government infact public opinion is key in affecting policy.

Since the national interests are paramount, foreign policies are designed by the government through high level decision making processes. National interest accomplishment can occur as a result of peaceful cooperation with other nations or through exploitation. Usually, creating foreign policy is the job of the head of government and the foreign minister. In some countries the legislature also has considerable effects. Foreign policies of countries have varying rates of change and scopes of intent which can be affected by factors that change the perceived national interests or even affect the stability of a country itself. Hill (2003) pointed out that ion this growing interdependent world, the process of foreign policy formulation is becoming more and more complex in which besides national actors, regional and international forces play an increasingly important role.

The foreign policy process cannot be separated form the domestic social structure or the domestic political process in the country. A country is also part and parcel of a world system. They are greatly affected by international stratification. It is important to see how external constraints and global structures e.g relations with major powers and the international financial institutions affect their foreign policy making process and international behaviour. Foreign policy restructuring entails a major alteration or beak up in the orientation of an actor in favour of establishing a new set of commitments and alliances both on the international and regional levels. Neack (2002) stressed that the formulation and implementation of a foreign policy is therefore primarily based on a country’s desire on obligation to foster and protect its national sovereignty ideological goals and economic prosperity.

In the formulation of a foreign policy a country should have clear goals. These are derived from the national interests. The foreign policy goals should basically be of a short term and long term nature which should be clear and not ambiguous. Based on the long term goal, short term strategies are adjusted and approaches are devised to meet the broader goals and national interests. A school of thought in foreign policy and international diplomacy advocates that a country should not have a rigid and fixed foreign policy. Foreign policy is an issue that must be adjusted with the changing international scenario. National interest alone is a paramount thing that sets the overall goal and agenda of foreign policy. For example United States of America’s foreign policy is the expression of its goals in the world and of how it proposes to achieve them, a reflection of the nation’s interests and guideline of how to interact with other countries.

National interest must play a significant part, if not a central one in the formation of any state’s foreign policy. The role of the state in any situation is primarily to further the interests of the society and people that it represents. This is the basis of its legitimacy and reason of its every existence. Foreign policy seeks to benefit the national government responsible for its creation and the national society that it represents. In this sense national interest can be indeed said to be an important and omnipresent factor in the consideration of foreign policy creation.

In order to realize maximum benefits from its interaction with other countries, as well as to promote or influence some change in the policies, attitudes or actions of another state to achieve favourable goals, a country needs to also evaluate and monitor a broad spectrum of factors relating to those other countries. These factors could be economic, political, social and military among many others. For example, Zimbabwe’s foreign policy objectives are grounded in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the protection of its prestige and image, the pursuit of policies that improve the stand and of living of all Zimbabweans wherever they are and the creation and maintenance of an international environment conducive for attainment of these goals. Zimbabwe’s foreign policy as with that of any other country is an extension of its domestic policy since it is the supreme national interests that drive the conception of a country’s foreign policy www.zimfa.gov.zw/foreignpolicy.