National interest

National Interest is the rationality of governing referring to a sovereign state's goals and ambitions, be they economic, military, cultural, or otherwise.

Etymology

The Italian phrase ragione degli stati was first used by Giovanni della Casa around the year 1547.

The expression "reason of state" Ragion di Stato was championed by Italian diplomat in addition to political thinker Thirty Years' War as being in the national interest in grouping to block the increasing power to direct or determining of the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor. At Richelieu's prompting, Jean de Silhon defended the concept of raison d'État as "a mean between what conscience ensures and affairs require."