Materiality, Ideas, and the Construction of National Interest: Middle Powers, Coalitions and Normative Agency Introduction The concept of national interest sits at the intersection of power and meaning. Classical realist accounts ground national interest primarily in material capabilities and security imperatives (Morgenthau; Waltz), while constructivist scholars (Wendt; Finnemore) demonstrate that interests are socially constructed through … Continue reading How does the dynamic interplay between material capabilities and ideational constructions shape a state’s articulation of “national interest” in contemporary international relations? How do middle powers operationalise limited capabilities to expand their national interest through coalition-building, norm entrepreneurship, and institutional innovation?