MALAYSIA FOREIGN POLICY What is core values and national interests? What is a country core values and national interests? What is Malaysia core values and national interests? NATIONAL INTEREST
National interest is a country’s goals and ambition
whether economic, military or cultural. The notion is an important one in international relations where pursuit of the national interest is the foundation of the realist school. The national interest of a state is multi faced. Primary is the states survival and security. Also important is the pursuit of wealth and economic growth and power. Many states, especially in modern times, regard the preservation of the nation’s culture as of great importance. All the nations are always engaged in the process of fulfilling or securing the goals of their national interests. The foreign policy of each nation is formulated on the basis of its national interest and it is always at work for securing its goals. It is a universally accepted right of each state to secure its national interests. A state always tries to justify its actions on the basis of its national interest. The behaviour of a state is always conditioned and governed by its national interests. Hence it is essential for us to know the meaning and content of National Interest. “The meaning of national interest is survival—the protection of physical, political and cultural identity against encroachments by other nation-states”— Morgenthau. National Interest is a vague and ambiguous term that carries a meaning according to the context in which it is used. Statesmen and policy-makers have always used it in ways suitable to them and to their objective of justifying the actions of their states. Hitler justified expansionist policies in the name of ―German national interests.‖ The US presidents have always justified their decisions to go in for the development of more and more destructive weapons in the interest of ―US national interest.‖ To build up a strong nuclear base at Diego Garcia was justified by the USA in the name of meeting the challenge posed by erstwhile USSR as well as for protecting the US interests in the Indian Ocean. During 1979-89, (erstwhile) USSR justified its intervention in Afghanistan in the name of ―Soviet national interests‖. China justified its border disputes with India and the Soviet Union in the name of attempts to secure the national interests of China. Now the P-5 countries talk of Non- proliferation and arms control in terms of the national interests of all the nations. Definition of National Interest
National Interest means: ―The general, long term and
continuing purpose which the state, the nation, and the government all see themselves as serving.‖ —Charles Lerche and Abdul National Interest is: ―What a nation feels to be necessary to its security and well being … National interest reflects the general and continuing ends for which a nation acts.‖ —Brookings Institution ―National Interest is, that which states seek to protect or achieve in relation to each other. It means desires on the part of sovereign states.‖ —Vernon Von Dyke ―The meaning of national interest is survival—the protection of physical, political and cultural identity against encroachments by other nation-states‖. — Morgenthau National Interest means: ―The values, desires and interests which states seek to protect or achieve in relation to each other‖ ―desires on the part of sovereign states‖. —V.V. Dyke National Interests can as defined as the claims, objectives, goals, demands and interests which a nation always tries to preserve, protect, defend and secure in relations with other nations. CORE VALUES The national interest of the state as long as Malaysia is concerned, is the preservation, protection and enhancement of the core values of the state. Looking at this point of view we could project five core values, which are: i) The preservation of sovereignty and political autonomy ii) The preservation of national security iii) Economic development and prosperity iv) The preservation of one’s cultural, social, religious values – ones way of life v) Enhancing the country’s image, influence and power abroad and in the international system STATEMENT OF MFA
―Malaysia continues to pursue an independent, principled
and pragmatic foreign policy, founded on the values of peace, humanity, justice, and equality. The overarching thrust of its foreign policy has been to safeguard Malaysia’s sovereignty and national interests as well as to contribute meaningfully towards a just and equitable community of nations through the conduct of effective diplomacy‖. Malaysia’s foreign policy is largely influenced and shaped by three key factors, namely its strategic location in Southeast Asia, its attributes as a trading nation as well as its unique demography. While the foreign policy approaches may have differed over the years due to changing domestic and external factors, the basic principles of the policy have continued since independence. Policy-making has been guided by the criteria of credibility together with consistency and coherency, which have served the country’s best interests. Balancing core values & interests in F.P
This is the area where any country need to thread very
carefully. As an example look at USFP which look at protecting its security. US protects its security at the place where it feels the problems originating, thus, forward defense. One of the way is by preventing Iran from acquiring WMD. Therefore, US made a deal with Iran However, this deal has upset Israel and Saudi, one of the many allies that US has. It’s hard to satisfy everybody, but you need to do what you need to do. So guess what happened in this scenario? Resolving conflicts concerning core values & interests
The country need to look at the priority between core
value and interest. The policy makers are also in need of looking at bigger picture in this matter. We have few examples of conflicts between these two. E.g. ―Buy British Last‖, Sipadan & Ligitan Island case, Pulau Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca) and etc.