Defining National Interest

Security Interests

Economic Interests

Ideological Interests

Security InterestsA nation’s concern about security depends on its perception of a threat against it.

Ensure physical survival of nation

Army

Maintain relations with Allies

Join military and other alliances

Maintain internal social order

Citizens safe from violence and crime

Economic Interests

– Provide citizens with adequate standard of living

– Basic necessities of life (food, water, shelter, health care)

– Ensure economic development and growth

Establishing trade relations with other nations

• Determined by wants and needs of citizens, types of products to sell and development of economies

Ideological Interests– Beliefs, values, culture, religion, and history

• Supporting a way of life at home and promoting it abroad

• Protecting the cultural and religious heritage of a nation– Close ties with religion and government

• Promoting a system of government at home and abroad

Developing Foreign Policy

U.S. Foreign Policy Goals

• Protect U.S. and Americans

        

                   

                           

• Advance Global Interests

• Promote International Understanding

• Support Foreign and Civil Services

Power and the Pursuit of National Interest

Power is a nation’s ability to influence others.

Theories of power

• 1.Nations will act to prevent any one country from becoming too powerful

• 2.Weaker countries ally themselves with powerful ones to gain more influence in the world and to receive protection from its stronger ally.

Why are nations powerful?• 1. Strategic location - Panama• 2. Valuable resources – Middle East• 3. Strong, diversified economies - Japan• 4. Strong militaries - Israel• 5. People sacrifice anything for nation’s goals

Most powerful nations have many of these characteristics. But, any powerful nation must have either economic or military power to be a major player in the world.

Do any nations have absolute power?

• Why? Why Not?

All power is relative to that of other countries and is based on

several factors.(power is a nation’s ability to

influence other nations)

Power Factors

1. Economic Power

2. Military Power

3. Geography

4. Modern Technology

5. National Resolve

Economic Power• A strong, diverse economy is key for

success• Must maintain relations with allies to buy,

sell and trade goods.

Economic strength determines:

• Global power and influence– Japan after WWII

• Ensures a nation’s survival– High unemployment/poverty can destabilize countries

and governments (Yugoslavia, Soviet Union)– Citizens repressed by government can rebel– Provides jobs and decent standard of living/ People content

Military Power

• Security threats– Protect against invasion

• Size of force– Relative to needs and perception of threat

• Nuclear weapons– Can yield power – use as tool in negotiations with other

countries• U.S./N.Korea agreement stop nuclear weapons program in

exchange for U.S. financial aid in building nuclear power plant

Geography

• Geopolitics - the influence of geography and demographics

Large nation advantage

• Mineral resources• Fertile soil• Diverse terrain• Variety of climates• Ability to diversify economy• Ability to rally nation behind leaders

Small nations must have a valuable resource other nations

need and want

Modern Technology

• Many experts feel this is the dominant factor to compete economically and militarily

• Crucial to economic and social development

NATIONAL RESOLVE

Common beliefs of a nation and desire to achieve them

• Appeals to nationalism, ideology, or religion to mobilize people to work for a nation’s goals.

• Threats to national security can increase resolve

Tools of Foreign Policy

Look...up in the sky...it's a bird...it's a plane...no, it's the USA ! Able to leap tall buildings with a single bound...more powerful than a

locomotive...faster than a speeding bullet...and who disguised as NATO, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the

American Way while policing the entire world.

Propaganda

One-sided or exaggerated information used by a nation to gain both national and international support for its policies or to

discredit the policies of an adversary.

Newspapers Books

Internet Radio

Television

Used to influence public opinion North Korean propaganda of a

soldier destroying the US Capitol

U.S. Propaganda

Diplomacy

Formal contacts between national governments

Business between nations conducted through diplomats

arrange trade and shipping agreements

serve as resource people for visiting citizens

conducted under strict international rules

Diplomacy1. Ambassadors - highest ranking diplomats. They represent the

opinions and interests of their country to the host government

2. Diplomatic recognition – one nation recognizing the right of another government to exist

3. Recalling Diplomats – when one nation strongly disapproves of another nation’s policies, diplomats may be ordered home (extreme measure)

4. Expelling Diplomats – diplomats and their families cannot be arrested or tried for a crime in the host nation – diplomatic immunity Host government will expel diplomats when disagreeing or serious crime has been committed (spying)

Diplomacy

5. Cultural and Scientific Exchanges –extend goodwill – groups exchanged for cultural and scientific purposes

6. Negotiations and Treaties – talks held to try to resolve problems peacefully. Formalize solutions by writing a treaty. Bilateral Treaty – formal agreement between two nations. Multilateral treaty – formal agreement between three or more nations.

7. Summits – Meeting between heads of state. Attempt to foster cooperation among nations, resolve problems, lay groundwork.

Trade Relations

• Trade agreements between nations to reduce or eliminate trade restrictions on each other’s goods promotes stability and growth in the economies of both nations.

• Restrictions on trade can be used to show disapproval of the policies of a nation

• Trade relations often reflect the state of political relations between nations.

Trade Relations• Establishing Trade Relations – Shows cooperation between nations

after a period of tension. Opens communication while political differences are worked out.

• Restrictions on Trade – restrict for 2 reasons 1. Protect a domestic industry 2. Discriminate against products exported to another nation Trade restrictions take two basic forms 1. Tariffs 2. Quotas• Trade Agreements – Used to gain access to another country’s market. Purpose: reduce or eliminate tariffs stimulate trade in new goods and services

Trade Relations

• Trade Agreements – Used to gain access to another country’s market.

Purpose:

reduce or eliminate tariffs

stimulate trade in new goods and services• GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade -

multilateral trade agreement• (multilateral trade agreement – agreement between

____________________ countries)

Foreign Aid

• Foreign Aid provides economic and military aid to undeveloped countries to foster economic development, gain and protect allies, and promote internal stability. Aid can come in the form of cash, equipment, or technical advice. Foreign aid falls into two categories:– Economic– Military

Foreign Aid

• Economic Aid – usually cash grants or loans. Can also be food, farming equipment, or technical assistance– Developing nations build power plants, farming

methods, develop industries– World Bank and other international

organizations (multilateral aid)– Individual countries – bilateral aid

Foreign Aid

• Military Aid – Often cash grants for developing a stronger defense

- may also include weapons, training programs, or military advisers.

- used to help friendly governments stay in power or to aid potential allies in efforts to overthrow a hostile government.

Alliances

• Multilateral agreements among nations to protect each other in case of attack

• Offers mutual protection and support of common interests

• More power militarily and politically (very important to smaller nations)

• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization – most powerful military alliance today – formed in 1949 –just added former S.U. countries.

International and Regional Organizations

• International Organization - Made up of every nation that wishes to participate

• Regional Organization – Made up of nations in one particular area of the world

• Role is to 1. provide a forum for addressing problems that affect all nations and 2. act as players in the international arena

International and Regional Organizations

• International Organizations

• United Nations (U.N.) – most prominent international organization. Primary purpose is to promote peace. Large nations – discuss different national interest. Small nations – equal opportunity to express views.

International and Regional Organizations

• Regional Organizations – members located in a particular region of the world.

• European Union (EU) includes most western European nations as well as some eastern European nations. It provides economic cooperation among its members.

• Organization of American States (OAS)established to promote the joint interests of North American and South American nations.

• Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded so smaller nations could compete with superpowers on economic and political issues.

Boycotts and Sanctions

• Hostile actions taken against nations• The most severe form of action that can be

taken against a nation short of military actions – can be considered an act of war.

Boycotts and Sanctions

• Boycott – decision to abstain from buying certain goods to try to force a nation to change its policies or a refusal to participate in international events or meetings. (Moscow Olympics 1980)

• Sanction – action taken by one nation to force another nation to comply with international law or to change its policies. (Iraq vs. Kuwait 1990, Haiti 1991-1994)

Military Force

• Gain territory, reclaim lost land, extend power over another group, spread religion, settle disputes.

• Military force is used in other ways to support foreign policy – warning, challenge to sovereignty.

Military Force

• Show of strength – position troops around world

Keep an eye on a situation to keep a threat from occurring or escalating

Military Force

• Terrorism – acts of violence, taking hostages, or setting off bombs in public places. Carried out by nongovernmental groups to gain attention for their political causes

May receive money, equipment, or moral support from a government

Military Force

• Limited Military Response –Short term military actions to force another nation to back down in a specific dispute– Warns offending natin that it is risking full-

scale war and alerts world community that a nation is willing to fight for its security and ideals. (1986 Tripoli, Libya in response to nation’s alleged role in terrorist attack in West Germany that killed American soldiers)

Military Force

• War – If all efforts for solving a conflict fail, nations go to war. – Cost of war is great

• Individuals• Society• Economies

– Foreign Policy tool of last resort