What is National Interest?

"It is truism to say that the power of the state used to advance and maintain the national interest, both in the international sphere and in the domestic. However, the pursuit of the national interest depends on the perception and interpretation of the national interest. In most cases, this is done form a limited viewpoint, from the viewpoint of those in power. Access to power, thus, determines the use of power, the end to which power is directed. Since access to power is essentially elitists, the use of power is also elitist in character." From "Religion, Politics and State" by Tun Aung Chain