Some thoughts  from Tradewinds

The concept of National Interest often arises in political commentary on weblogbahamas in reaffirming the important of the underlying principle of National Interest in the determination of government policy and political decision making.. Simple as it seems to be, the concept of National Interest has many political ramifications that impact upon the formulation and implementation of national policy.. It  has been a steadfast belief of many that in a democratically elected government such as we have the Bahamas, all government policies, both political and economic, should reflect the exclusive interests of the nation and its electorate.. Government's legitimacy, therefore, is validated by way of the election process, which ordains and establishes national governance on behalf of the people to govern the nation in the exclusive and specific interests of the people.. Any other outside interests influencing government policy is contrary to the overriding National Interest to which government was elected to carryout in a fiduciary-like capacity of public trust on behalf of the people.. Government should function in a manner similar to a Public Trustee on behalf of the Beneficiary people with the political body acting in the capacity of a de facto Settlor in the determination of what constitutes the National Interest..

What is the real meaning and significance of National Interest and where did the meaning come from?? Although the concept of National Interest has been a political concept going back many centuries, its contemporary relevance became recognized in the writings of Professor Hans J. Morgenthau and expounded upon in his classic text, Politics Among Nations(pdf), first published in 1948.. It soon became the handbook and principle reference guide to international politics and relations.. After five editions it became a necessary and then required reading for every serious student of the social sciences.. As a result, Morganthau became one of the most quoted and influential scholars in contemporary political thought.. He is credited with being one of the principle founders of what became to be know as the "Realist School" of political thinking that emphasized National Interest as a fundamental basis for policy formation.. Morganthau cites in Politics Among Nations, that "the main scapegoat that helps political realism to find its way through the landscape of international politics is the concept interest defined in terms of power"..  What better description can one find of what became known as the Cold War where both United States and Soviet Union interests were a function of absolute power and control..

Morganthau, again citing his Politics Among Nations, clarified National Interest as "the interest of an individual nation taken as a whole in its entirety to be an independent entity separate from the interests of subordinate areas or groups and also other nation states and supra-international  organizations"..  What become clear is that the concept of National Interest should be used like a guiding light in the formation and implementation of government policies.. Any other influences should be recognized and hence rejected as not being in the National Interest or the interest of the country in its entirety.. The determination of National Interest is not as easy as it may seem because conflicts in opinion regarding nation identify may arise as to specifically what a nation's National Interest is or perhaps should be.. Think for a moment about the introduction of VAT in the Bahamas.. Some truly believe and take the position that VAT is in the National Interest while others believe in just the opposite point-of-view.. These conflicting positions arise as a result from not only defining what is the country's real National Interest, but  what constitutes and determines National Interest within the specific Bahamian context.. As one trained in economics, I find VAT not to be in the National Interest and a very bad idea for the  Bahamas, but others schooled in political science and law believe VAT might be a viable solution in the long term interest of the Bahamas..  It is somewhat interesting to observe that today the majority of  Bahamian people are thinking more in economic terms in their opposition to VAT, while those in the public sector are thinking from a framework of political perspective in their support of VAT..

In conclusion, let us hope that government as well as future governments in the Bahamas will begin to define National Interest as the main criteria in the determination of government policies and decision making.. Policies in the National Interest should be entirely free of corrupted self-interests and other kinds of political interests which perpetuate the retention of political power by favoring of special interests and pressure groups.. These other forms of self-serving, personal interests in combination with political interests only lead to larger, less efficient bureaucracies and to authoritarian rule and control..

Finally, it should be noted that individual countries that act in their own National Interest tend to be more efficient in the carrying out of domestic as well as international policies.. Defining a country's National Interest may be a political catalyst for the settlement of domestic and international disputes in an open and peaceful manner.. Individual citizens must always ask themselves whether or not a proposed government policy or decision is in the National Interest of their country?? If the answer is Yes, then the policy or decision should be supported; if the answer is No, then the policy or decision should be opposed as the country's National Interest may very well be at stake.. National Interest represents the best interest for all citizens concerned and for the nation in its entirety..