Why can nationalism make international cooperation more difficult?

Nationalism complicates international cooperation by centering supreme loyalty on the nation-state, which often prioritizes independent national interests over collective global goals. Because nationalism reinforces the state as the primary focus of security and political identity, it frequently acts as a significant obstacle to the development of supranational governance and effective multinational collaboration.1

The doctrine of sovereignty further complicates this by asserting that states possess the right to act as judges in their own controversies and to regulate their internal affairs—such as economic policy or national security—with little regard for external repercussions. When states view their freedom of action as absolute, they resist the limitations on power necessary for meaningful international integration.21

Even in successful examples of cooperation, such as the European Union, nationalist sentiments continue to hinder more ambitious goals that would require further surrendering of national sovereignty. Ultimately, the tension between the desire to protect sovereign autonomy and the need to address global challenges remains a fundamental hurdle in international politics.12