One can only provide a cynical answer.. It means that National Interest is subject to influence by competing commercial and institutional interests and by what their sectorial or private goals are rather than those of the people who the nation in 'National'. This is made possible by the cultural narrative which is collectively created, sustained and regenerated by those third-party (relative to the people) interests. One such aspect of that narrative is that the curriculum in schools must teach the same narrative to our children. By this mechanism we believe that the interests of the citizenry are best served by a focus on the primacy of sectoral and private-commercial interest and the growth of GDP.

The definition of National interest is hugely being influenced by the independent interests of the competing institutions which shadows the interest of the general public. The competitiveness of those private interests become a measure of the public interest or need.

I believe that national priorities should be always read in light of global discourses. At the same time, national interests are supposed to be coordinated between institutions within the nation. As an example, the higher education system in Oman is scattered between various institutions. You find the policies in the system facing a lot of issues due to the conflict of interest among these institutions supervising the higher education institutions.

National interest like any other concept in social science, lack a general defined. The regime or system of government in operation speak volume on who and who may contribute in determining national interest. Under rigid and dictator leader, national interest may be more like a reflection of the leader. Is also very import to point that national interest is influenced by international (or external factor) and national (or internal factors). Please find attached article that may be of help.