Critically Examining the Proposition That ‘National Interest’ Constitutes an Essentially Contested Concept in International Relations Abstract The notion of national interest has long occupied a central place in the theory and practice of international relations (IR), providing a rhetorical and analytical foundation for state behavior, foreign policy, and diplomatic strategy. Yet despite its ubiquity, the … Continue reading Critically examine the proposition that ‘national interest’ constitutes an essentially contested concept in the theory and practice of international relations.