International affairs help shape foreign policies that are developed to protect a nation's interests and influence its dealings with other nations on the world stage.
It is for this reason that a book aimed at showcasing the understanding of the complexities that underlie strategic decision-making processes at the intersection of national interest and global affairs was launched in Windhoek today. The book, titled "Symbiotic Relationship Between National Interest and Foreign Policy: The Nexus of Decision Making," was authored by Dr. Charles Mubita.
Dr. Mubita says the book was fueled by the mere fact that most African countries do not have a documented and codified national interest document.
"How do you get into a relationship with somebody if you don't know what your interest is? That is what provoked me. What is the relationship between national interests and foreign policy? Foreign policy is nothing but a set of strategies that a country has to use in order to achieve a goal. But what are the goals they have to be in the national interest, so you can't send people to go and achieve your foreign policy goals when you don't have the goals?"
In the book, Dr. Mubita also sheds light on the theoretical foundations of symbiotic relationships and provides insight into the decision-making process that shapes a nation's foreign policy.
Prof. David Namwandi, the Chancellor of IUM, says, "The nexus between national interest and foreign policy is a topic of paramount importance in our rapidly changing political and global landscape. This academic work seeks to unravel the complexities inherent in decision-making processes that shape the direction of our nation on the international stage. As we launch this book, we also launch a deeper understanding of the symbotic relationship that binds our domestic priorities with our goal interactions."
Deputy Minister of International Relations & Foreign Affairs, Jenelly Matundu, says, "The book Symbiotic Relationship Between National Interest and Foreign Policy: The Nexus of Decision Making has come at the right time when the ministry of international relations and UNAM have launched the School of Diplomatic Studies at UNAM for our diplomats."
Dr. Mubita has so far written four other books in journalism, political history, and international relations.