The Instrumental Value Arguments for National Self-Determination

What is it about?

David Miller argues that national identity is indispensable for the successful functioning of a liberal democracy. In particular, national identity makes important contributions to liberal democratic institutions, including creating incentives for the fulfillment of civic duties, facilitating deliberative democracy, and consolidating representative democracy. Thus, a shared identity is indispensable for liberal democracy; it even grounds a good claim for national self-determination. Because Miller’s arguments appeal to the instrumental values of a national culture, I call his argument instrumental value arguments. In this paper, I consider the soundness of Miller’s instrumental value arguments. I show that national identity does not necessarily make contributions to democratic institutions in the ways Miller suggests; rather, it is doubtful whether national identity even has a tendency to make these contributions. Moreover, even if it did, these instrumental values would not support a national community’s right to self-determination. Thus, the instrumental value arguments fail.

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