To what extent should nationalist interest be pursued?

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Unit 2

• To what extent should nationalist interest be
  pursued?

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Chapter 5 National Interest and Foreign Policy
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How are Nationalism and National Interest Related?

• Aspects of National Interest
• People who govern democratic communities and
  nations make decisions based on what is the best
  interest of the community or nation.
• Whether a peoples nationalism is based on a
  shared ethnicity and culture or shared beliefs
  and values, they want certain benefits for
  themselves and their communities.

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• National Interest may focus on one or more of the
  following
• Economic prosperity This includes stable
  employment and a decent standard of living.
• Security and Safety Measure to maintain
  national security and physical protection include
  laws that protect citizens within the country, as
  well as secure borders that can be defended
  against intruders.
• Beliefs and values These include affirming and
  promoting citizens values, beliefs, and
  cultures. Governments try to safeguard and
  respect the shared worldviews, ways of life,
  traditions, and languages of their citizens.
• In which ways is an educated population in the
  best interests of both a peoples personal
  interest and in a national interest?

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Changing views of National Interest

• Just as peoples understanding for nationalism
  may differ, their opinions on what is in the
  national interest may also differ.
• National interest is not static or unchanging.
  Events within a country can change peoples
  opinion about what is in the national interest.
  For example, what was the national interest for
  the regions hit by the tsunami December 26, 2006?

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Differing Views of National Interest

• People often decide what is in the national
  interest based on the understanding on nation and
  national identity.
• For example, many Canadians take pride in
  Canadas reputation as a nation of peacekeepers.
  Their course of action may depend on whether or
  not it promotes peace in the world.

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• Another example is China. The Chinese government
  believes that a strong military is essential.
  Chinas military might is meant to safeguard
  its own security and stability. It is meant to
  deter the hostile elements of Cold War mentality
  who attempt to threaten Chinas national interest
  with force.

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How are Nationalism and National Interest Related?

• Peoples choices are often inspired by loyalty.
  Nationalism and national loyalty can inspire
  people to pursue the national interests of their
  country or nation.
• The Summer Olympics of 2008 in Beijing allowed
  the Chinese to show the world how proud they were
  of their nation. This would be a national
  interest.
• It also allowed for those opposed of China and
  the Chinese rule over Tibet to show their
  conflicting national interest.

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National Interest and Artic Sovereignty

• National interest often involves claiming
  sovereignty over territory.
• This is the case in the Arctic, where five
  countries claim sovereignty to islands and the
  seabed. These countries are Canada, the United
  States, Denmark, Norway, and Russia.
• In August 2007, Russia claimed part of the 1800
  km Lomonosov Ridge, which runs under the Arctic
  Ocean. The Russian government states that this
  ridge is part of the continental shelve that is
  connected to Russia.
• Canada disputes this claim.

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• According to the United Nations Convention on the
  Law of the Sea, countries have sovereignty over
  22.2 km of sea beyond their coastline.
• Two factor highlight the importance of claiming
  sovereignty in the Arctic
• 1. The ice is melting. This may open up the
  Northwest Passage which will make it easier to
  travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
  Ocean. Canada lays claim to this passage but
  other nations dispute it.
• 2. There is an abundance of resources in the
  Arctic from oil, to gold, tin and diamonds.

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Views on Canadas national interests in the Artic

• In August of 2007, Stephen Harper announced that
  Canada would protect the sovereignty of its
  Arctic territory by
• Sending patrol ships to the artic
• Increasing aerial surveillance in the region
• Expanding the Canadian Rangers program
• Building a training centre
• Establish a deepwater docking and refuelling port

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How has national interest shaped foreign policy?

• A policy is a plan of action that has been
  deliberately chosen to guide or influence future
  decisions.
• A countrys government is responsible for
  developing both domestic policy and foreign
  policy.
• Foreign policy decisions may have short term
  effects or long term effects.
• Some foreign policy decisions made at the end of
  World War I are still affecting the world today.
  Many people believe that the turmoil in the
  Middle Eastern countries related directly to the
  foreign policy decisions of the United States and
  European countries as they pursued their own
  national interest.

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National Interests and World War I Peace
Settlements

• World War I was fought in Europe, the Middle
  East, Asia, and Africa.
• On one side were the Central Powers (Germany,
  Austro-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria).
• On the other side were the Allies (Britain,
  France, Russia, Italy, and later the United
  States).
• This war was enormous and deadly. Many millions
  of people died and the financial cost was huge.

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• Before WWI, nationalism flourished in Europe.
  Many governments believed that expanding their
  territory in Europe and in their colonies was
  their national interest.
• Their foreign policies involved forming alliances
  with other European countries. These alliances
  allowed for the members to help one another out
  if they should be threatened. The alliances are
  what allowed countries to enter the war so
  quickly.

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The straw that broke the camels back

• In June of 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of
  Austria-Hungary was visiting Sarajevo.
• Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia, which was
  controlled by the Austro-Hungarians.
• While on his visit, a young Serbian assassinated
  the Archduke and his wife.
• This event is said to have led to WWI.

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• Due to the assassination of the Archduke, Austria
  made demands to Serbia and comply in 24 hours.
  Serbia refused and Austria began to use military
  pressure.
• Russia was aligned with Serbia and declared war
  on Austria.
• Germany, in alliance with Austria, declared war
  on Russia.
• France and Britain then declared war on Germany.

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• Most of the people affected by the war, had no
  say in the decision to go to war.
• Canada, as a commonwealth nation, went to war
  when Britain declared war on Germany.
• Many of the people who lived in Russia, the
  Ottoman Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire
  also had no say in this decision.

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• World War I lasted four long years and finally
  ended when an armistice (truce) was declared at
  11a.m. on November 11th, 1918.

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Treaty Negotiations in France

• Peace talks after the war took place in Paris,
  France, from 1919 to 1920. At these talks,
  leaders focused on the issues that had caused the
  war sovereignty and territory, economic
  interests and security, and nationalism and
  national identity.
• The victorious Allies wanted to punish Germany.
  The leaders of Britain, France and the United
  States were the most powerful and made most of
  the decisions of the treaty. These decisions
  affected millions of people.

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• For Germany, the Treaty of Versailles meant harsh
  financial, military, and territorial penalties.
• The treaty required Germany to
• Reduce its military strength
• Pay war reparation to compensate the Allies for
  the costs of the war
• Five up territory in Europe as well as all its
  colonies
• Accept to responsibility for causing all the
  loss and damage that had affected the Allies.

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National Interests after WWI

• During WWI, many Canadians believed that fighting
  the war was in their national interest.
• However, after the war, this national interest
  changed. It went from being foreign to domestic.
• In Canada, many people had jobs within the war
  industry. When the war was over, many people lost
  their jobs and returning veterans could not find
  jobs.
• Many other nations became more interested in
  domestic interests as well. The French and
  Belgians needed to rebuild their nations.
• The Treaty of Versailles was not enforced as so
  many of the Allies were worried about domestic
  issues.

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National Interests in the Middle East

• Before WWI, the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman
  Empire had focused on their own national
  interests.
• Arabs in the empire shared traditions, religion,
  language, and history, and often suffered
  persecution at the hands of the Turks.
• During the war, Arab nationalism grew. The Arab
  peoples wanted self-government. To help in this,
  the Arabs helped the Allies fight the Turks and
  the Germans in the Middle East. In return, they
  were promised an independent Arab homeland.
• Arab Prince Emir Faysal led his people and helped
  the British gain control of Palestine in 1917.
• The French and British took advantage of him and
  divided up the Middle East between themselves.

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National Interest and Policy in the Middle East

• There were other treaties besides the Treaty of
  Versailles that were signed after WWI.
• Other treaties gave France control over the
  territory and the peoples of Syria and Lebanon.
• Britain controlled Cyprus, Iraq, and Palestine.
• Although the United States was not involved in
  controlling the Middle East, it supported Britain
  and France.
• These three super powers paid little attention to
  the interests of the Arab people. They were more
  focused on their own national interests.
• Prior to WWI, there was little oil used and
  needed. After WWI, however, oil became a hot
  commodity.
• Britain and France believed that if they
  controlled the Middle East, then they would
  control the oil.
• Arab nationalists were outraged. They wanted
  their own nation. They became angrier when the
  British passed the Balfour Declaration which gave
  the Jewish people Palestine.

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How has foreign policy shaped national interest?

• Just as national interest shapes foreign policy,
  foreign policy can also affect national interest.
  
• For example, a governments foreign policies can
  affect its citizens safety and security, their
  economic future, and their values and culture.
• Canadas effort on the War on Terrorism in
  Afghanistan is part of a foreign policy. Canada
  is part of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
  Organization) and when NATO decided to go to war
  with the Taliban, Canada went to war as well. How
  did this affect our national interest?

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9/11 and Canada in Afghanistan

• The 9/11 attacks on the United States killed
  nearly 3000 people including 24 Canadians.
• After the attack, it was believed that Osama bin
  Laden was hiding in Afghanistan under the
  protection of the Taliban.
• After the attacks, the United Nations agreed that
  the United States and its allies could invade
  Afghanistan, bring down the Taliban regime and
  find bin Laden.
• NATO organized the mission, and Canada with the
  United States and other member nations attacked
  the Taliban in October 2001.
• Once the Taliban government was defeated,
  Canadian troops kept peace while a new government
  was formed.

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• In 2003, the American troops were withdrawn from
  Afghanistan and sent to invade Iraq.
• As American troops left, more Canadian and other
  countries forces were needed to make up for this
  loss of troops.
• Canadian troops also expanded their role to
  include active combat.
• This has brought much debate for the Canadian
  people and the Canadian government.
• War costs both money and lives. To date 88
  Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan and the
  government is expected to have spent 3.5 billion
  by early 2009.

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• Some say that a military role was not the right
  mission for Canada and that we should led the
  world into peace, not follow the U.S. into wars.
  Jack Layton
• Others state that we are there for the Afghan
  people, and that if we abandon fellow human
  beings to their misery, that it will become our
  own.

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• Canadians are split on the role that the Canadian
  military should take in Afghanistan.
• Should the Canadian forces engage in combat?
  Should they only be there as peacekeepers? Or
  should the Canadian forces be completely withdraw
  from Afghanistan?
• Afghans are concerned about their future. They
  want the same opportunities that many others have
  around the world.

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National Interests and Rights for Women in
Afghanistan

• When the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, girls
  were not allowed to go to school and women were
  not allowed to have careers.
• Sima Samar is Afghanistans first minister of
  womens affairs. In 2007, she headed the
  Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission,
  which monitors the progress of government
  agencies and other institutions toward
  implementing human rights laws and policies.