Coordination Cannot Establish Political Authority

Abstract

One of the most common arguments in favour of the state's authority is that without the coordinating hand of political institutions, we could not achieve important moral benefits. I argue that if we understand authority correctly, then coordination cannot even in principle establish that coordinators have political authority.

You can't tell me what to do! Why should states comply with international institutions?

“…It creates duties in the same way as promises and requests, not by merely triggering reasons (Enoch, 2014, p. 311). Another explanation for why this should not be regarded as an instance of authority is that it lacks error tolerance (Brinkmann, 2018). 15 For a detailed Kantian account that argues for the authority of the state, see Anna Stilz (2009, chapter 2).…”

“…It creates duties in the same way as promises and requests, not by merely triggering reasons (Enoch, 2014, p. 311). Another explanation for why this should not be regarded as an instance of authority is that it lacks error tolerance (Brinkmann, 2018).…”