What is citizenship?
Citizenship is in simplest terms the legally defined way of looking at membership of a particular state. This membership comes with a set of rights and obligations.
- Inclusive but exclusive as in groups of people can be excluded in this process.
- Participation is a right to members.
- Not included if a foreigner or a Non Citizen. (a resident who does not have the same rights as a citizen)
- As a concept it is intrinsic to democratic values and the idea of a liberal state – but it highlights inequality, power differences and social class
Different ways of understanding citizenship.
1. Membership - rights and obligations – may differ by state
2. Citizenship comes from the state
3. T.H. Marshall came up with three elements of citizenship which completes the full membership in a society. After World War II, Marshall's model was used widely in liberal democracies. Though interconnected, these elements are arranged chronologically starting with civil rights (18th century), political rights (19th century) and finally social rights (20th century).
4. “Citizenship remains important as an active domain or democracy and as the principal expression of being political as belonging. In an age of globalisation, it should be regarded as a foundation of human rights and not as a competitor”.
- Obey laws, Pay taxes, Right to reside (work), Protect people’s rights, Military service
- Reciprocal relationship between state and individual
- States choose members
- Rights to have rights – inclusive & exclusive
2. Citizenship comes from the state
- place of birth, parents, naturalisation
- change to multiple / multi level (EU)
3. T.H. Marshall came up with three elements of citizenship which completes the full membership in a society. After World War II, Marshall's model was used widely in liberal democracies. Though interconnected, these elements are arranged chronologically starting with civil rights (18th century), political rights (19th century) and finally social rights (20th century).
- Civil rights - includes the freedom of speech, thought, faith, rights to justice and property ownership, conclusion of contracts and liberty of the person. These rights are imperative for individual freedom.
- Political rights - the right to participate and execute power. As such the individual gets the right to vote, hold office or any other political membership. It can be on the level of parliament or councils of local governments.
- Social rights - being able to live life according to standards of society. Eligible to education and social services like social benefits, particularly health care, income security and housing.
4. “Citizenship remains important as an active domain or democracy and as the principal expression of being political as belonging. In an age of globalisation, it should be regarded as a foundation of human rights and not as a competitor”.
Ways of obtaining citizenship
- Jus soli (birth place) - the birth place determines a child's citizenship
- Jus sanguinis - the citizenship of the natural parents determine the child's citizenship
- Marriage
- Naturalisation