Self Interests

1
Self Interests

• On your paper, make three columns
• Give each column a heading
• Security/Safety
• Economic/Money
• Values/Beliefs
• Think of your own life what are the things in
  your life (what do you do) that are in your BEST
  interest (that are good for you?)
• Categorize them into one of the three columns

2

• We are motivated to action by what is best for us
• Just like there are things that are best for
  peoples individual lives, there are things that
  are best for nations
• These are called National Interests

3
National Interests

• What is best for a particular nation
• Anything that is good or beneficial for a nation
  or that gives it an advantage
• A nations most vital needs or goals
• National interests commonly include
• Self preservation (primary duty of any
  government)
• Independence (Sovereignty)
• Economic well-being
• Military security

4
Key Ideas

• A countrys national interests change over time
• Each country has its own national interests, but
  all countries have common SECURITY, ECONOMIC, and
  IDEOLOGICAL interests
• Citizens can disagree on what are a countrys
  national interests
• A countrys leaders are ultimately responsible
  for defining the national interests
• A countrys national interest determine its
  Foreign Policy

5
Security Interests

• Physical survival is the most basic interest of
  any nation
• Security Interests involve
• protection against outside attack
• Protection against internal disorder
• Broad security interests shared by all nations
• Protect natural borders
• Maintain relations with allies
• Ensure safety of citizens from violence and crime

6
Economic Interests

• Promote the economic welfare of a countrys
  people
• Broad economic interests shared by all nations
• Provide citizens with an adequate standard of
  living
• Ensure economic development and growth
• Establish trade relations with other nations

7
Ideological Interests

• Ideological interests may involve protecting and
  promoting a nations
• Beliefs
• Values
• Culture
• Religion
• History
• System of Government