Citizenship is a legal status of an individual which defines their rights and responsibilities in society. It also reflects their place within the state and its history, culture and values. Consequently, it is very different across countries and has been historically defined in diverse ways. Citizenship has been understood as a reward for integration, a social good and a form of societal cohesion. The debate about citizenship is therefore framed by different perspectives, and is often contested.
The right to citizenship is a crucial matter because it relates to the relationship between people and the state. Citizenship has a direct impact on people’s daily lives and their access to public services. It also relates to the way in which they participate in political life. Generally, there are four basic ways of becoming a citizen: by birth, marriage, descent or naturalisation. Each country decides who can become a citizen, and what their rights and responsibilities are. However, international human rights instruments challenge states’ discretion on this issue by placing certain limits on what can count as citizenship.
Historically, there have been many exclusions from citizenship. In Ancient Greece, for example, slaves were not regarded as citizens. During the Nazi era, women, peasants and foreigners who did not fit the racial criteria for citizenship were considered as subjects, who had no rights or duties. These exclusions no longer apply, but there are still many who do not fully benefit from the benefits of being a citizen.
In the United Kingdom, the current coalition government has reframed the discussion on citizenship in relation to its vision of the Big Society. This aims to encourage civic participation by providing young people with the skills, space and opportunity to help them be active citizens. It is also promoting a national service, which will give 16 year olds the chance to develop the skills they need for citizenship and work.
This new policy is a continuation of a long debate on citizenship, which has been shaped by changing societal and ideological circumstances. It has been a key feature of British politics for over a decade, as the Labour Government emphasised its importance as part of the process of ‘integration’ (Mayo and Rooke, 2006).
The current debate is particularly significant because it takes place within the context of a changing political landscape. It also intersects with a much wider debate on Britishness and national identity, which has been influenced by the legacy of the UK’s colonial past and its membership of the European Union. Despite this, it remains difficult to separate out the different elements of the debate. There is a need to recognise that citizenship is an important social construct, and that it should be addressed holistically, with equal attention given to the issues of participation and belonging. The debate on the nature of citizenship is therefore very complex, and will continue to evolve.