Liberal nationalism is a kind of nationalism defended recently by political philosophers who believe that there can be a non-xenophobic form of nationalism compatible with liberal values of freedom, tolerance, equality, and individual rights.[11] Ernest Renan, author of "Qu'est-ce qu'une nation?" [12] and John Stuart Mill[13] are often thought to be early liberal nationalists. Liberal nationalists often defend the value of national identity by saying that individuals need a national identity in order to lead meaningful, autonomous lives[14] and that liberal democratic polities need national identity in order to function properly.[15]