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Essay on Levels of National Interest (Revision)

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Prioritizing and clarifying are two of the United States biggest conflicts, encountering great difficulty when attempting to define its national interest. National interest is the establishment of identity and purpose of the country; it is a multi-faceted idea that is made of several ideologies set forth by the country’s most influential leaders and parties. It is assumed to be what is best for the country (Rosati, 2010, p.2). Concerns of economic growth, wealth, military affairs, survival, and security are all integral players in determining what is important in regards to national interest. Power, prosperity, peace, and principles are also elements of important domestic concerns. The idea of national interest can easily be considered …show more content…

According to The Commission, extremely important national interests are conditions that, if compromised, would severely prejudice but not strictly imperil the ability of the US government to safeguard and enhance the well-being of Americans in a free and secure nation (Ellsworth, July 2000, p.6). The final two levels of national interest are important and least important. (Ellsworth, July 2000, p.7) explained that the important level causes major negative consequences for the ability of the US government to safeguard and enhance the well-being of Americans in a free and secure nation and the less important causes little direct impact on the government(p.8).

Ordinal ranking of the different levels is not implying that any level is unimportant; every stage aids in organization, clarity, and understanding for the nations goals. Within each level are descriptive goals for the country’s top leaders to reflect on when considering the interest of the nation. The most imperative level consisted of only five, identified by the Commission as (1) to prevent, deter, and reduce the threat of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons attacks on the United States or its military forces abroad; (2) to ensure US allies’ survival and their active cooperation with the US in shaping an international system in which we can thrive; (3) to prevent the emergence of hostile major powers or failed

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