national interest

(noun)

A country's goals and ambitions whether economic, military, or cultural. Primary is the state's survival, welfare, and security. Also important is the pursuit of wealth, economic growth, and power.

Related Terms

Examples of national interest in the following topics:

  • Foreign Policy

    • A country's foreign policy includes all of the policies it develops to pursue its national interests as it interacts with other countries.
    • A country's foreign policy consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its own goals through relations with other countries.
    • Since the national interests are paramount, foreign policies are designed by the government through high-level decision making processes.
    • National interest accomplishments can occur as a result of peaceful cooperation with other nations or through exploitation.
    • Foreign policy is designed to protect the national interests of the state.

  • Single-Issue Interest Groups

    • Single-issue interest groups focus on advocacy around a single defining issue.
    • Interest groups use various forms of advocacy in order to influence public opinion and/or policy.
    • There are a wide variety of interest groups representing a variety of constituencies.
    • There are a growing number of single-issue interest groups in the US.
    • Another example is the National Riffle Associate (NRA, ), which is also, arguably, the best known and most influential single-issue interest group on the United States.

  • Using Electoral Politics

    • All electoral politics are interest politics in some sense.
    • One example of an interest group using electoral politics is the National Caucus of Labor Committees (NCLC).
    • This resulted in the USLP being replaced by the National Democratic Policy Committee (NDPC) a political action committee unassociated with the Democratic National Committee.
    • LaRouche was the leader of the National Caucus of Labor Committees, an interest group that later developed a distinct political party that nominated LaRouche for president of the U.S.
    • Give an example of an interest group making determined use of electoral politics

  • National Security Policy

    • National security policies are policies related to the survival of the state.
    • In order to possess national security, a nation needs to possess economic security, energy security, and environmental security, in addition to a strong military.
    • In 2010, Barack Obama included an all-encompassing world-view in his definition of America's national security interests.
    • Current national security concerns in the U.S. include the Drug War in Mexico, terrorism, instability in the Middle East, the national debt, and global warming, among others.
    • Economic security is also a part of national security.

  • Ideological Interest Groups

    • Ideological interest groups unite on issues, with their work driven by deeply held beliefs.
    • Interest groups represent people or organizations with common concerns and interests.
    • Some examples of ideological interest groups include the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Taxpayers Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Christian Coalition.
    • NOW is an example of an ideological interest group.
    • Describe ideological interest groups and their role in the policy-making process

  • Governmental Interest Groups

    • Government interest groups are a unique type of interest group that represents the interests of government to other governments.
    • Government interest groups are a unique form of interest groups that represent the interests of government to other governments.
    • As with other interest groups many government interest groups also conduct work in public education and media campaigns in addition to their direct advocacy work.
    • Some government interest groups in the US include the National League of Cities, the National Conference of Mayors, and the National Governors Association.
    • Give examples of government interest groups and their influence on policy

  • Public Interest Groups

    • Public interest groups advocate for what they consider to be the public good.
    • Interest groups represent people or organizations with common concerns and interests.
    • There are a wide variety of interest groups representing a variety of constituencies.
    • Groups like the National Education Association, a teachers union and general public interest group, might still be seen by some as primarily promoting teachers' rights.
    • Another challenge for public-interest groups is the so-called free rider effect.

  • Professional Interest Groups

    • Professional interest groups represent the economic interests for members of various professions including doctors, engineers, and lawyers.
    • Professional interest groups are another type of economic interest group.
    • There are many types of economic interest groups, including professional interest groups which organize and represent professional workers.
    • However, it is also committed to advancing the interest of physicals, including economic interests.
    • While the AMA now supports Medicare it did opposed attempts to create a national health care system.

  • Privacy Rights and National Security

    • Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 on July 26, 1947.
    • The Act did not define national security.
    • Its ambiguity made it a powerful phrase to invoke whenever issues threatened by other interests of the state came up for discussion and decision.
    • National Security Act of 1947 was set up to advise the President on the integration of domestic, military and foreign policies relating to national security.
    • Explain the underlying tension between national security and civil liberties, identifying the historical roots and institutionalization of the concept of national security

  • Agricultural Interest Groups

    • Agricultural interest groups are a type of economic interest group that represent farmers.
    • Economic interest groups are varied.
    • Categories of economic interest groups include those representing business, labor, professional, and agricultural interests.
    • Agricultural interest groups represent the economic interests of farmers.
    • These interests include business and agricultural extension concerns, as well as matters of local, national, and even international policy.