Collier argues that national identity is essential for fostering cooperation, equity, and collective action, providing a framework that individualism and globalism fail to replicate. He contrasts the rise of individualism and globalism with the enduring need for communal belonging, arguing that humans derive well-being and moral behavior from shared identities.

Collier contends that national identity is important for enabling redistributive taxation and public goods provision, as it creates the sense of solidarity necessary for individuals to support wealth transfers and collective action. He contrasts this with regionalism, exemplified by Catalonia’s reluctance to redistribute wealth within Spain, where the absence of a strong national identity undermines cooperation. Similarly, globalism fails to generate the shared identity required for significant redistribution, as evidenced by the European Union’s limited ability to transfer resources between nations. By comparison, African nations, where identities remain largely subnational, struggle to foster trust and cooperation, resulting in poor public provision and governance. Collier argues that national identity provides the emotional and practical foundation for these critical societal functions, making it a powerful and necessary framework for equity and unity.

Migration and multiculturalism pose additional challenges. Collier advocates for assimilation and controlled migration policies to maintain strong national cohesion.