National interest as a common element

National interest is the force that drives states to interact with other states and non-state actors. Without national interest, a state will not show determination in pursuing a relationship with other actors in international relations.

Oxford Concise dictionary of politics (2003, pp. 360-361) delineates national interest as the interest of the state as defined by its government. The dictionary also explains the two broad usages of national interest.

“Use by politicians in seeking support for a particular course of action, especially in foreign policy. Given the widespread attachment to the nation as a social and political organization, national interest is a powerful device for invoking support. The term is used by politicians to seek support for domestic policy objectives, but here it is less persuasive given the normal extent of differences on domestic policy and hence employed less. In foreign policy in contrast, the term invokes an image of the nation, or the nation-state, defending its interest within the anarchic international system where dangers abound and the interest of the nation are always at risk.”

“Use as a tool for analyzing foreign policy, particularly by political realist, such as Hans Morgenthau. Here national interest is used as a sort of foreign policy version of the term public interest – indicating what is best for the nation in its relations with other states. This use of the term emphasizes not merely the threat to the nation from the international anarchy, but also the external constraints on the freedom of maneuver of the state from treaties, the interest and power of other states, and other factors beyond the control of the nation such as geographical location and dependence on foreign trade. This analytical usage of the term places much emphasis on the role of the state as the embodiment of the nation’s interest. The realists’ use of the term national interest in evaluating foreign policy has focused on national security as the core of national interest.”  

As a tool for analyzing, one can draw a conclusion that the Manus Island detention center and the housing of asylum seekers is in the national interest of PNG. Since independence, according to Bischoff (1993) one of PNG’s national interests is to attain a level of social, educational, economic and cultural development that is on par with developments taking place elsewhere.

Australia is an important partner because most of the money they give as aid makes up a huge percentage of the national government’s budget and goes towards development purposes. Thus, to maintain a good relationship one has to reciprocate by entertaining our patron, Australia.

The Manus Island case shows another usage of national interest as described by Oxford. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister have echoed the fact that they have acted in the best interest of the nation (national interest) by cooperating with Australia to help provide a solution to Australia’s chronic asylum seekers problem including the international crime of people smuggling. Both leaders have used the idea of national interest to gain the support of all Papua New Guineans.

The Oxford Concise dictionary of Politics (2003, p. 448) defines public interest as the common interest of persons in their capacity as members of the public. To understand this definition let us look at the poor condition of the highlands highway. It is the common interest of all persons who travel on the highway to see an improvement in the condition of the road.

This interest of the public is connected to infrastructure maintenance. Apart from the millions of money the government collects from taxes and charges from state owned enterprises, PNG does not have enough money to maintain its basic infrastructure. The government also understands the fact that the maintenance of the highway will help increase the level of economic and social development which is a national interest.

Since the country’s development needs are a national interest and the fact that PNG needs money to help in addressing our development needs. Working together with countries who have the financial capacity to assist is paramount. Countries like China have come on board by assisting with the soft loan of about K6 billion for maintenance of the highlands highway.

This confirms the sentence from Oxford (2003, p. 361) that; “national interest is used as a sort of foreign policy version of the term public interest – indicating what is best for the nation in its relations with other states.”

Self-interest according to WordWeb is the concern for your own interest and welfare. We all have different interest that we pursue in order to improve our lives or make our lives easy and enjoyable. This interest are determined by our unlimited needs and wants

A particular Public Motor Vehicle owner in Mount Hagen has in recent weeks spent about K10, 000 to fix two of his Toyota Coaster buses. The damage was caused by the appalling state of the highlands highway from Madang to Mount Hagen. This has prompted the bus driver to contact the National newspaper to vent his frustrations.

His concern for his our business interest and the welfare of his vehicles is not isolated to one particular PMV owner but is shared by all who own PMVs and big freight trucks travelling on the highlands highway. So a collection of self-interest or individual interest forms public interest. 

We all pursue our self-interest every day. A collection of self-interest in a particular need amounts to public interest. A collection of public interest in a particular need amounts to national interest.

By looking at the different levels of interest from the micro up to the national, it helps one to understand the significance of national interest. Similar to state and non-state actors, national interest is a common element of foreign policy. 

Reference

Bischoff, P. (1993). Introduction to Politics and Public Administration. PNG: UPNG Press.

McLean, I., & McMillan, A. (2003). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.