The limit of politics: national interests

As a reference for the analysis of the concept, Charles Lerche's definition can be taken: "General purpose with a vocation of continuity, to which the state, the nation and the government adhere". It follows that only broadly shared aspirations capable of guiding long-term policy-making, transcending particular partisan perceptions, can be understood as national interest. Its importance makes it necessary to define it clearly in terms of long-term effects in relation to the situation. 

It is the effect of a basic consensus that serves as a reference for shaping both foreign policy and national security policies, doctrines, concepts or strategies. Its intimate relationship with the interpretation of the Constitution provides the support for the decisions of political power exposed through clear guidelines for the formulation of policies, as well as for their implementation, establishing a hierarchy of national priorities to avoid ineffective or inefficient use of scarce resources. The national interest must therefore be a benchmark for setting the boundaries of the consensual playing field that should serve as a retaining wall for political manifestos that are not in tune with its spirit, which clearly defines necessary restrictions on government action to avoid the possibility of misusing the consensus, by transgressing any part of it, to gain political advantage over the opposition. 

The publication and dissemination of the national interest not only conveys clarity and confidence to the public about the security and welfare of the country, but also sends clear signals to the outside world about its intentions and ability to defend those interests. Clearly stated national interests, in turn, serve as a reference for citizens, civil society organisations and the media by containing the basic criteria for evaluating the policy developed by national decision-makers. 

The state must have a comprehensive set of policies to safeguard the national interest which, to be effective, must not only be internally coherent, but also functionally coherent in the sense that no two policies should conflict with each other. 

The basic criterion of a country's national interest is to ensure the life and well-being of its citizens, together with the maintenance of territorial integrity in the sense that, in the event of external aggression or internal subversion, the country can defend itself. Related to the above is the preservation of its sovereignty in the sense that the state can make all necessary decisions without being under internal coercion or under the imperative of external forces.  

The second component of the national interest relates to the welfare of its citizens, which is guaranteed by ensuring the provision of the means to improve the quality of life of its citizens by satisfying their basic needs at an affordable cost. This, in turn, depends on growth at a pace commensurate with their needs for survival and growth.  

The third component of a country's national interest is to maintain its internal cohesion and harmony. With few exceptions, all modern nation-states are multi-ethnic entities in which different communities compete for scarce resources. This is a healthy competition if it is kept within constitutional boundaries. However, if any group crosses these lines, it can undermine the very foundations of the state and create an existential threat to the country. It is therefore in the country's national interest to contain such unrest rather than to try to improve its cohesion.  

Finally, the fourth essential component of a country's national interest is the preservation of regional peace and stability in which it is located or has vital interests. While reserving its right to defend its territorial integrity and national sovereignty, every peace-loving nation-state, acting responsibly in global and regional affairs, believes in peaceful coexistence. Consequently, regional peace is a cornerstone of every state's national interest. 

Throughout history, every nation-state has faced multiple challenges ranging from survival and security, to economic growth and its global image, which can come from any source: internal dynamics, external situations or a combination of both. Some of these may be due to its own historical and structural contradictions or simply to global fault lines that threaten its very existence.  

In this sense, the survival of a state that allows parliamentary transactions using as a medium of exchange the substance of national interests is not conceivable, which, if used to form a government, puts the constitution on the line. That is why the national interest is the limit to the actions of political parties. In the Spanish case, a timely, appropriate and adequate response to these challenges is the essence of the validity of Spain's national interest.