National Interests from the Perspective of International Law and International Relations Theories

One of the most controversial issues, as well as complicated and fundamental concepts in international legal system and international relations, is the debate on the national interest between different schools. Theorists and analysts have used the concept of national interest to study and analyze the objectives, goals and behavioral patterns of international actors and the states’ foreign policy. The paper methodology is trying to analysis the most important theories - Realism, Neorealism, Idealism, Marxism, Anarchism, Liberalism and Constructivism - around the so-called national interests and also important theoretical frameworks in this context. Therefore, it is attempted to provide a theoretical evaluation of this concept between above mentioned theories so that to fill the gap of national interest Assessment by the major theories of international relations.