National interest and security
When we address security issues, it always shows up the national interest. They have a close relationship we can’t overlook. That’s what we’re going to see now.
Introduction
Today, I want to speak to you about the relationship between national interest and security. It’s complex at times and controversial on other occasions. However, what matters for this discussion is the way national interest shapes and fills the security of any country. That’s essential to understand the logic of international relations, but also the main concerns of every State. Furthermore, their behavior is chiefly understandable due to this relationship.
So, in this discussion, I’m going to deal with the meaning of the national interest, its importance in political terms, and its direct implications in security matters. About this latter question, I want to examine how the national interest determines the security, and it will introduce us to the concept of national security. Something about I’m going to talk in forthcoming episodes.
Although I talked about the national interest on another occasion, I want to go over it again. I’m going to set out only some basic ideas. The discussion will revolve around the international perspective of this relation, but I don’t want to overlook its domestic implications. I’ll devote a couple of minutes to this dimension.
The national interest
Given the fact that there is no night watchman in the international sphere to turn to when things go wrong, States resort to self-help. They’re alone in a competitive and anarchical environment. Competition, rivalry, and distrust are the general rule. Realists stressed this aspect of the world stage, and they are right.
In this context, full of hardships and conflicts, national interest is the compass of every State to stay alive. Like a lighthouse, it shines in the dark to illuminate the path to follow.
The concept of national interest is of common usage in IR, and even in mass media, it shows up from time to time, especially when world affairs are in the spotlight. Despite this, this expression is not new at all. Its origins date back to the early modern age. Nevertheless, its meaning is blurry at times because it’s unusual to see someone who dares to define it. Indeed, that action is an exercise of authority because it entails setting the course of action of the whole political community.
For this reason, the national interest is a matter that only a few people can determine. And they are who are in charge of the central institutions in the nation. That means the power structures that organize and rule society. In this regard, we have to take into account the fact that these institutions and the community they rule are different realities. Because of this, they have different interests. However, society is under the control and direction of those political structures that govern it. Society can’t escape, and that explains the importance of the definition of the national interest. It determines the course of the entire community because it is the guideline for those who run it.
Then, what is the national interest? In a few words, we can define this concept as the interest of the political community, the State. Insofar as this institution is a territorial unit, the national interest has two different dimensions. One of them is the domestic one, and the other one is international. That tells us that security has, therefore, these two dimensions too. We can define it regarding the inner realm of the political community, characterized by its borders, and the external domain which its location is abroad.
National interest and national security
Before moving on, we need to keep in mind that the national interest has a specific content that defines it. It’s not enough to say it is only the interest of the State. That’s true, but not the whole truth. In this respect, we have to draw a universal principle that works for every State. This principle is valid in the domestic and international domains. And it’s quite simple: the State’s primary interest is to survive. That primary interest defines the national interest, and it works in both spheres the internal and external.
Hence, the State’s main interest is to protect its existence in these domains. So, we see the national interest is a matter of safety. That makes it become a critical matter in public affairs. It’s a sensitive issue, and for this reason, only a few people have authority in this field. Indeed, the level of autonomy of these people is impressive, and it’s due to their position in the power structures and the amount of power they concentrate.
The national interest and national security are more or less the same things. At least, if we consider survival, the primary goal of any political community, as it happens. We can’t forget the fact that the State birth was for safety reasons. Nevertheless, at this point, an interesting question arises. The safety of whom? The question is not controversial, but the answer really is.
We’re talking about an institution that enjoys considerable autonomy. At least, that’s the case in specific domains. So, only a few people make decisions that affect this critical realm. And the original raison d’etre of the State was safety. And as we are seeing, it’s still. The answer is easy. We’re talking about the State’s safety. We can’t disregard that this issue has domestic and international implications.
The State has to protect itself from threats abroad, but also at home. These hazards are different, but they may be a menace for its existence. In the domestic sphere, the main threat is anything that may entail a challenge to its authority and put its survival at risk. Usually, this threat comes from below, namely, society. And abroad, perils typically come from other States, and they may adopt endless forms.
How does the national interest shape security?
We’ve seen so far what the national interest is, how it is related to security issues, and its different dimensions. Now, we’re going to address how the national interest shapes security matters, and also what factors determine the national interest and how they affect the State’s safety.
The first question I want to answer is about what determines the national interest. I’ve talked about it in another episode. However, for the current discussion, it’s necessary to go over it.
Different factors influence on the national interest, but the most relevant are geopolitical determinants. Their role is crucial because they have to do with critical aspects of international relations. I refer to territorial extension, geographical location, the shape of borders, distances, population, resources available, and many more.
They all are fundamental because they have a significant influence on the interactions with other States. We can’t overlook the fact that States are territorial entities, and that makes them geopolitical units. Consequently, the space they occupy determines their possibilities regarding their foreign relations. I mean by this, their neighbors, the access to commercial routes and hubs, distances, and so on. The position a State occupies on the world stage is vital to define the national interest and its security priorities.
Another factor we have to keep in mind is the unequal distribution of capabilities, and it’s related to the geopolitical factors I mentioned. Its consequence is the development of power relations on the global stage, and the existence of a hierarchy. Some States are great powers, and they exercise a dominant role in the international scene. Other countries, however, are less powerful and have to deal with this situation to survive. In this context, the national interest is survival. To do so, every State struggles for power to get a better position. In a competitive and hostile environment, where relative gains are more important than absolute gains, you never have enough power. For this reason, power is fundamental because it’s a critical resource to ensure national interest and, by doing so, national security too.
Priorities of the State
This discussion may seem abstract in some way, and we need to take a look at the priorities of States in tactical terms. They define the national interest and the needs of their security. These priorities may vary depending on the specific situation of every nation, but there are some general patterns we can mention.
Among these priorities is the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity. This idea is not old fashion because States still are territorial entities, and sometimes conflicts arise for territorial issues. All in all, the land is a political, economic, and military resource that constitutes its capacities. Any loss of territory means a loss in power terms and more vulnerability. And sovereignty is also related to territorial matters because it affects the State autonomy in a geographical area. Then, if its independence is in danger, it reflects on its international position and its security.
Besides all of this, I have to mention other priorities related to national interest and security. That is the case of access to those vital resources that the State can’t provide by itself. That has to do with commerce because countries can’t be self-sufficient. There are raw materials, manufactures, and other goods that are essential for its survival, and therefore, for its national security. These products play a strategic role and constitute the national interest of the State.
Any State needs supplies that come from abroad. And they are fundamental to keep working the economic machinery that maintains the national security structure. I refer to the military, intelligence agencies, the foreign office, other government departments, and so on.
If these elements are essential, we can’t dismiss the role of information in all of this. That has to do with those critical areas that affect the national interest and security. I refer to significant areas of the government that include all kinds of records with sensitive information. For instance, that’s the case of documents with information about security issues such as the military, infrastructures, law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, and so on. We have to include other information about the economy, technology, confidential researches, and data whose disclosure may comprise national security.
The domestic dimension of security
As I said before, security issues have two dimensions. They are external and internal dimensions. Both are important, but I discussed this topic from an international perspective. Now, I want to say something about the domestic dimension.
If the outer side of security and national interest has to do with threats, such as other countries, when we focus on the domestic aspect of this matter, things are different.
They are different because we’re talking about a different realm in which things work with other rules. In this regard, it’s important the sort of political system. In every case, there is a specific situation in which national interest and security matters vary. Nevertheless, we can identify some general patterns for all States.
As I already said, the State constitutes an independent organization that rules society. Those who manage this organization has control of the political community and their interests. Aside from the institutionalization degree of the political community, its interests are the same as the ruling elite. Therefore, national security identifies with State safety regarding possible inner threats. These threats might be many, but in general, we’re speaking about those who want to subvert the political order and resist State’s authority.
The State was born to provide safety. That was its initial justification. And the way to ensure it is by imposing its coercive rule with its laws. That led it to deliver justice with courts and oversee the population with its law enforcement agencies. So, laws, courts, the police, and other coercive means are the foundations of its authority. Any challenge to them, or any disruption of this situation, is considered a threat and compromises national security.
And that’s, in brief, the nature of these two concepts, national interest, and national security, from the two dimensions they include.
Question of the day
Question of the day! How do you think the international dimension of national security affects the domestic domain? Post your opinion in the comments section below, and I’ll check it out.
Bibliography used:
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Spruyt, Hendrik, The Sovereign State and its Competitors
Le Goff, Jacques, La Baja Edad Media
Giddens, Anthony, The Nation-State and violence
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