National Interests

How has National Interest shaped foreign policy?

A policy is a plan of action that has been deliberately chosen to guide or influence future decisions. There are two different policies that a government is responsible for develeoping both domestic policy and foreign policy. A domestic policy is decisions that are made about what to do within a country, while a foreign policy are decisions made about what to do with official relations with other coutnries. Decisions made about foreign policy's may have a short term effect on a small group of people or it may have a long term effect on a big group of people. National interest is the interests of the people of a nation.

National Interest and World War 1 peace settlements
Before World War 1, nationalism had flourished in Europe. Many people believed that the cause of the war was every individuals national interest. Europe believed that their national interest was in expanding their territory and forming alliances with other European countries, as a foreign policy. The more alliances that were created, the more countries that were involved in the war. Being in the war was not part of most peopls national interest, but it was a part of their foreign policy, so they had no say. They had to fight when they were told to fight. The person's national interest was not taken into consideration. The reason world war 1 was fought was over territory, sovereignty, economy, security, nationalism, and national identity. All these issues were discussed in the peace talks in 1919- 1920 in Paris, France. Since the allies had won , they wanted Germany to be severely punished under harsh conditions. As a result, Germany had to pay war compensation of $30 billion, give up its land in Europe, and they had to accept responsibility for all the damage that had been done to the allies. It wasnt a part of their national interest, but it was a part of their foreign policy.

National Interests after World War 1
Once world war one came to an end, many Canadians turned their attention to domestic concerns. The war had created an industrial boom, many returning Canadian veterans had trouble finding work. People's personal, collective, and national interests began to focus more on whats been going on at home rather than whats going on in other countries. The domestic issues became way more important than foreign policy concerns. Belgium and France, in debt, focused on rebuilding towns, farms and cities. Unity among the allies who had created the treaty of Versailles soon disappeared. A couple of years before world war 1, Arabs in ottoman empire had suffered political, cultural, and linguistic persecution in the hands of the ruling Turks. But during the war Arab nationalism based on language, history, traditions and religion had been growing. The Arab's goal was a self-government. But to further this dream, they had helped the allies fight the Turks and Germany in the middle east. In return they had been promised a independent homeland.

The treaty of Versailles wasn't the only treaty negotiated after world war 1. The other treaties gave France control over the territory and the peoples of Syria and Lebanon. While Britain was granted control over the territory and peoples of Cyprus, Iraq, and Palestine. Although the United States was not involved the united states president Wilson supported Britain and France. Wilson didn't pay attention to the promises or national interests of the Middle Eastern. The allies were concerned only with their own national interests. The growing popularity of the automobile, oil was becoming very important. And the middle east was rich in oil, France and Britain thought controlling the middle east would promote their nationalist interests. By having ready source of oil and securing trade with the region. But Arab nationalists through the region were very angry about what happened. Arab nationalists viewed these actions as a betrayal, they broke all the promises that were made to them. After the war, a nationalist party led by Mustafa Kemal set up a republic in Turkey. The new government refused to accept the European peace treaty and won Independence for Turkey in 1923.

Foreign Policy and Contending National Interests in Peru


  Foreign policy does not always benefit all communities that are involved on the negotiations. Much of the indigenous people's of peru land was destroyed after it was used and sold off for oil exploration and extraction. The national GDP for peru was 6600$ per person. The peru law say's that if indigenous people live in a region, it must be kept for the people's use. This law can be set aside to help contribute to the countries national interest, but in september 2007 the government of peru signed a United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. This gives them to right to have heir own territories and resources they traditionally own.


9/11 and Canada in Afghanistan

     9/11 killed 2982 people in the states, 24 of these people were canadians. It was assumed that Osama Bin Laden and other members of al-Qaeda were behind the terrorist attack. United Nations came to a conclusion that it was time to go in and attack the taliban and track down bin laden. This mission was started in 2001 by NATO. The taliban government was banished and canadian forces were involved in the take down of the taliban government. after the down fall, Canadian forces stepped in after and helped with the new government on in Afghanistan.But when the american government got involved, they were reassigned to iraq instead of afghanistan, which reduced the size of NATO in Afghanistan. To makeup for this shortfall canada increased the size of their force and expanded their role to include active combat. this movement was very controversial, many canadians did not like the idea of this invasion in iraq.

Debate over Afghanistan


After much conflict, NATO decided that there was much more to do other than fighting. They wanted to put a greater self-sufficient society in that country. They also wanted to help the country to be more secure.  They wanted to help with economy, political progress, medical systems,  and armed forces within the country such as police and armies.  This was hard to achieve, the taliban forces were trying to prevent this from happening. by 208 81 canadian soldiers have died, and one dimplomat has been killed fighting.

How are nationalism and national interest related?

Nationalism is more of the nations pride and national interests is like the interests of the nation. Nations make decisions just as you would make your own. Those are dependant on the citizens beliefs and wants. Although your wants are important, your needs are 10 times more important in life so in making decisions you must consider what is right for you and also beneficial to you. Also including what would benefit your family and how hard or easy it may be for you to make the decisions you want for yourself. Nationalism relates to this how? it relates to it because nationalism is a groups involvement which in national interests also involves groups but clearly not as much. Nations are considered a whole, and their choices are considered to be similar thus coming to an agreement. these agreements cannot be made just by 1 person. But with the whole nation or part of a nation thinking about the most helpful and best thing to do, is when the real decision is made.

Aspects of national interest 

The main aspects are economic prosperity, security and safety, and beliefs and values. All these aspects that involve decision making are based on the thoughts of what a community or what the nations interests are. These choice are in the best mind to want certain benefits for themselves and their communities. The first aspect is economic prosperity which includes a stable employment factor and a decent standaard of living. Security and safety is the second and i definitely think this is the most important aspect! it mainly focus's on the measure to maintain national security physical protection including laws that protect citizens within the country. The last aspect would be beliefs and values which is affirming and promoting citizens values & beliefs. All these aspect are huge contributors to how national interests work and how choices are made.

Differing views of national interest

Many citizens have different thoughts of what a nation is and what national identity is. Thus resulting in different decisions and wants for the citizens of that country. Canada is a great example of what we call "peacemakers". They are armed forces that maintain peace by keeping enemies apart until a crisis can be resolved. I agree with this completely but other think that Canada is more of a peacemaking society. Meaning they allow soldiers to use force for reasons other then self-defense. Everyone has their different veiw on what canada is which creates conflict and that is where eiither where peacemakers or even peacekeepers get involved.

National interest and arctic sovereignty

National interests usually involve claiming sovereignty over a specific territory. Its almost like its a completion between nations and how strong their interests are towards other territories.  According to the UN convention on the law of the sea, countries tend to have sovereignty over 22.2 km of sea beyond their coastline. which i think is quite a lot! one factor in claiming these territories would definitely be the climate change. This one factor really works toward the arctic ocean whereas most the climate can differ from day to day thus causing to much of a risk for whoever may take over that territory. The climate change really effects the choices in who wants to take that territory or not. The 2nd factor is the issue of the discovery of extensive oil, natural gas, gold, tin and diamond deposits(which is really not likely but can still happen). There are so many different risks of having certain choices made, so making them as a nation really helps.