7.3.2 Motives and International Affairs

Should internationalism be pursued?

Big Ideas:

  • Nation-states take part in regional and global affairs for many reasons.

  • Nations choose to be involved or non-involved in international affairs based on national interest.

  • Nation and state involvement in regional and global affairs impacts individual and collective identities.

  • Internationalism can be promoted in foreign policy.


Whenever one nation comes into contact with another nation, there is interaction. Sometimes, these interactions are driven by goals (also known as motives), which can vary in length or intensity. Often, the results of the interactions are important predictors of how nations will get along in the future. Just as people interact with one another for personal interests (to fulfill their wants and needs), countries interact with other countries to fulfill their national interests.

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When countries interact with one another, they have different motives for their interactions. Nations are motivated by the need to achieve complex goals that make up their national interest. Part of the reason for these complex goals is that nations are made up and governed by human beings. All countries are motivated to pursue goals that will ensure economic stability, peace, security, self-determination and humanitarian efforts.

Reflect

Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations has said that"sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance."  Based on his statement, what does Ki-moon believe about the importance of nations interacting with each other?

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Successful nations realize they cannot operate in isolation. Rather, they must take part in complex relationships with other nations to help satisfy their citizens' needs and achieve their nations' goals. This means taking part in international organizations, working groups, or international missions in the name of supporting and cooperating with the global community.

In summary, national interests are the main reasons or motives behind internationalism. Examine the following diagram that lists the national interests that motivate countries to get involved in international affairs.


Click on each of the following tabs to read about the motives that drive nations to be involved in international affairs, and how Canada uses these motives to guide our involvement. Take notes using the 7.3.2 Notebook Organizer. If you need a reminder on how to take notes, click here.


Countries and nation-states serve their national interests by finding ways to achieve economic stability. Canada does this in a variety of ways, including offering programs that lead to job creation, promoting trade policies that result in the export of more Canadian goods and services, and investing in its own people. For more information on Canada's approach to economic stability, visit the Government of Canada's Development Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy page.


Countries and nation-states all desire to control their own futures and have a say in how things are done. In the 1800s, for example, many people living in Canada wanted to determine their own future and become independent of Britain. In 1999, Nunavut was created as a means of providing the Inuit peoples of Canada control over more aspects of their lives as a nation within Canada. To learn more about First Nations self-determination and self-government, view the video Setting Our Course: Yukon First Nations Self-Government.



Without question, peace is desired by almost every country and nation-state. Organizations such as the United Nations have mandates to promote a world that is free of war. However, keeping the international community peaceful is not easy, and efforts to achieve peace are ongoing. Canada has played a significant role in UN peacekeeping missions to date. View the challenges that peacekeepers face in their video UN Peacekeeping: Challenges from the field today and tomorrow.



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In the pursuit of achieving and maintaining peace, countries promote internationalism by entering into alliances that promote safety and security. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an example of a protective alliance among countries including Canada. Canada is also part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, which is a partnership with the United States whose purpose is to defend North American air space. Read more about NORAD here.


Countries and nation-states are motivated to act to relieve suffering and protect the innocent in times of crises. Humanitarian missions can occur within a country or beyond its borders. Stable and wealthy countries such as Canada and the United States typically have sufficient resources to provide for humanitarian missions. But, other nations are challenged to address internal emergencies when they occur. View what one former refugee had to say about Canada's humanitarian programs.


Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism, and read pages 202 to 206. These pages will further your understanding of the motives of nation and state involvement or non-involvement in international affairs.
Take notes on the 7.3.2 Notebook Organizer ( Word, PDF, Google Doc) about what you have read. When you are done, return here to continue.