Citizenship

Citizenship implies full and equal membership in a political community. As a concept, it carries immense significance in the modern world. States grant their citizens a collective political identity, often accompanied by a set of rights and responsibilities. Citizens usually see themselves as part of a particular nation, such as being Indian, Japanese, or German, depending on the state they belong to. Along with this identity, citizens expect rights and protections from their state, both within its borders and when they travel abroad. However, citizenship isn’t solely about the relationship between the state and its members. It also concerns how citizens relate to each other and their obligations to society.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the concept of citizenship.
2. Discuss how the definition of citizenship has expanded and evolved.

Membership and Rights

Citizenship guarantees various rights that differ across countries. However, in democratic states, citizens often have political, civil, and socio-economic rights. These include the right to vote, freedom of speech, and the right to a minimum wage or education. Full and equal membership in a state allows individuals to claim these rights. The importance of citizenship is highlighted when considering those who are deprived of it, such as refugees or illegal migrants. These individuals live in precarious conditions without the guarantees and protections that citizenship provides.

1. Political Rights: These include the right to vote, run for public office, and participate in governance. These rights have often been achieved through struggle and are considered fundamental in a democracy.
2. Civil Rights: These are personal freedoms like freedom of speech, freedom of belief, and the right to privacy. They form the bedrock of democratic citizenship.
3. Socio-Economic Rights: In modern democratic states, socio-economic rights include access to basic services such as education, healthcare, and a minimum wage.

Historically, struggles for equal citizenship have occurred across the world. In Europe, events like the French Revolution symbolized the fight against monarchy and for citizen rights. In South Africa, the apartheid system created a long struggle for equal citizenship for the black population. To this day, movements like the women’s movement or the dalit movement in India seek equal rights.

Note: These movements reveal how groups have historically fought for inclusion and recognition in political communities, and how the concept of citizenship is continually contested.

Full and Equal Membership

The idea of full and equal membership doesn’t always align with reality. Tensions often arise between the insiders (those already granted citizenship and its rights) and outsiders (migrants, refugees, or even fellow citizens from other regions). These tensions can be seen when resources such as jobs, education, or healthcare are perceived as limited.

1. Freedom of Movement: One of the fundamental rights of citizenship in many countries, including India, is the right to move freely within the country. This right is particularly important for workers who migrate in search of better job opportunities. For instance, IT professionals might migrate to cities like Bangalore, or nurses from Kerala may work across the country.
2. Resistance to Outsiders: However, local populations sometimes resist outsiders. In cities, resistance may occur when local jobs go to migrant workers. For example, campaigns like “Mumbai for Mumbaikars” reflect such sentiments. Political parties might even capitalize on this opposition by calling for restrictions on who can work or live in particular regions.
3. Justification for Resistance: There are both moral and political debates about whether such resistance is justified. On the one hand, restricting the right to work or live in certain areas might seem unfair, especially in a democratic society. On the other hand, local populations might feel economically threatened by an influx of outsiders.

Note: In many cases, public opinion and government policies play a key role in shaping how disputes over citizenship and rights are resolved. Citizens are free to influence public opinion through demonstrations, media, or legal action.

Equal Rights for All

Citizenship should ideally mean that all citizens, regardless of their background, are entitled to certain basic rights and a minimum standard of living. The urban poor, in particular, face significant challenges. Despite their crucial contributions to the economy, slum dwellers are often treated as unwelcome and live in extremely poor conditions.

1. Urban Poor: The living conditions of slum dwellers—those without secure housing, sanitation, or access to basic services—reveal deep inequalities. Despite this, they perform vital jobs such as being hawkers, traders, or domestic workers. Their contributions to the city’s economy, however, are rarely recognized or adequately rewarded.
2. Struggles for Recognition: The urban poor have, in some cases, organized to fight for their rights. For example, the national policy on urban street vendors aimed to regulate the profession to prevent harassment from authorities. Slum dwellers and other marginalized groups have begun to demand greater recognition and rights from the state.

Note: The 1985 Supreme Court decision in the Olga Tellis case was a major moment in recognizing the rights of slum dwellers in India. The Court ruled that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to livelihood.

Citizen and Nation

The notion of nation-state emerged during the modern period, with early assertions of sovereignty seen in the French Revolution of 1789. Modern nation-states claim that their territories encompass a unique culture, history, and identity, symbolized by national flags, anthems, or languages.

1. Inclusive National Identity: Democratic states generally aim for an inclusive identity that encompasses people of different religions, languages, and cultural traditions. However, in practice, national identity often favors certain groups over others. This can create a sense of exclusion among minorities.
2. Secularism and Assimilation: In countries like France, where secularism is a cornerstone of national identity, assimilation can pose challenges for religious minorities. For example, controversies have arisen over the wearing of religious symbols like the Sikh turban or the Muslim headscarf in public schools.
3. Criteria for Citizenship: The criteria for granting citizenship vary widely across nations. In some countries, religion or ethnic origin plays a major role in determining citizenship, as seen in Israel or Germany. These restrictive criteria often create debates about inclusion and the future of multicultural societies.

Universal Citizenship

The concept of universal citizenship raises complex questions, particularly regarding the status of refugees and stateless people. Refugees are often displaced by war, famine, or persecution and lack the legal rights of citizens. This creates humanitarian challenges for the global community.

1. Stateless People: Stateless individuals often live in precarious situations, with no access to employment, education, or healthcare. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) works to assist these populations, but finding permanent solutions is difficult.
2. India’s Refugee Policy: India has provided refuge to groups like the Tibetan community led by the Dalai Lama, but challenges remain in managing the influx of migrants from neighboring countries. Many refugees remain stateless for years without any clear path to citizenship.
3. Global Citizenship: The idea of global citizenship suggests that as the world becomes more interconnected, citizenship should not be tied solely to the nation-state. Advocates argue for universal human rights that extend beyond national borders, helping to address global issues like migration and statelessness.

Note: Global problems, such as migration, disease, and environmental challenges, require cooperative action across national boundaries. The concept of global citizenship encourages solidarity and shared responsibility for addressing these issues.

MCQ

Which of the following is a political right typically guaranteed to citizens in a democratic state?

1. Right to vote
2. Right to free education
3. Right to private property

Answer: 1