Explain the instruments and methods devised for the promotion of national interest. (UPSC CSE Mains 2016 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
Instruments and methods for the promotion of national interest are well explained by Palmer and Perkins. It will be pertinent to rely on their views while dealing with these instruments and methods. These can be briefly explained as follows:
1. Diplomacy
2. Alliance
3. Propaganda
4. Psychological and political warfare
5. Economic methods
6. Imperialism and colonialism
- Diplomacy consists of the techniques and procedures for conducting relations among states. Diplomacy is practiced through diplomats. He is the eyes and ears of his government in other countries. Diplomatic negotiations are employed to reconcile the different interests of the states through the process of mutual give and take.
- Alliances are usually concluded by two or more states for the promotion and protection of their common interests. Thus, the character and the tenure of the alliance will depend on the relative strength of those interests, Robinson observes: “the advantage of pursuing the national interests through alliances, of course, lies in the translation of inchoate, common or complementary interests into common policy and in bringing the nation’s power directly to bear on questions of national interests.”
- Propaganda has become a major instrument for the promotion of national interest. In the most general terms “any attempt to persuade persons to accept certain points of view or to take a certain action” is propaganda. Lasswell says, “Propaganda is the manipulation of symbols to control controversial attitudes; education is the manipulation of symbols to transmit accepted attitudes”.
- Psychological and political warfare - Eisenhower associated psychological warfare with “the struggle for minds of men”. Linebarger defined psychological warfare in the broad sense as “the application of parts of the science of psychology to further the efforts of political, economic, or military action,” and in narrow sense as “the use of propaganda against an enemy, together with such other operational measures of military, economic, or political nature as may be required to supplement propaganda”.
- Economic methods state deliberately follow certain policies in pursuit of their national interests. Economic methods are regularly employed to fulfil national interests both in peace and war.
- Imperialism and Colonialism - From sixteenth century till the middle of twentieth century European nations used imperialism and colonialism as a tool to further their national interests.
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