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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
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To: Carolyn who wrote (7829)10/29/2001 5:48:29 PM
From: Maurice Winn  Read Replies (1) of 281500
 
<nations act in their own self-interest. ALL do. > Carolyn, that's true, but only in a narrow way that requires the definition of 'nation' to be what the people in charge want at any particular time.

A broader definition of 'nation' would say that nations do not act in their own interests all the time. Even if there was a single opinion in a country of what constituted 'our interest', because life runs more like a Simpsons episode than the clinical fantasy politicians like to propound, nations act in what they THINK is their interests, but really, their interests might better be served in another way, if only they could figure it out.

Commonly, elections are won by a bare majority and that switches at the next election when the manifestation of the public wishes turns to reality. So 'the nation's interest' is built on shifting sands.

Was it really in the USSR's interests to invade Afghanistan? Was it really in the USA interest to try to maintain the South Vietnamese military regime in power? Is it really in the USA interest to maintain the Saudi Arabian regime in power? I don't have the answers, I'm just pointing out how what seems like a good idea and 'in the nation's interest' or 'defending the nation's interests' can seem as silly as buying Amazon.com at the peak.

Mqurice
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