Citizen and citizenship
The concept of citizenship describes the relationship between an individual and a state, defining the
legal status, rights, and duties they share. A citizen is an individual who is a participatory member of a
political community, while citizenship is the legal status and relationship itself.
Core aspects of citizenship
The concept of citizenship has evolved significantly since its origins in ancient Greek and Roman city-
states, expanding from an exclusive privilege for property-owning men to a more universal,
multidimensional status. Key aspects/elements/ features of modern citizenship include:
Legal status: A legally recognized connection between a person and a nation-state. This status entitles a
citizen to the state's protection, particularly when abroad.
Rights and duties: In return for a citizen's allegiance, the state grants a "bundle of rights," such as civil,
political, and social rights. In turn, citizens have certain duties, such as obeying laws, paying taxes, and
possibly performing military service. These rights mainly have constitutional and legal backing and
safeguarded and ensured by judiciary.
Active participation: Beyond legal status, citizenship can also be viewed as a practice involving active
participation in the affairs of one's community and government. This can range from voting in elections
to volunteering and community organizing.
Identity and belonging: Citizenship is a component of a person's social identity and gives them a sense
of belonging to a political community. It provides a universal identity that can unite diverse people as
legal equals within a nation.
How citizenship is acquired
There are several ways to acquire citizenship:
Jus soli (right of the soil): Citizenship is acquired by being born within a country's territory, regardless of
the parents' nationality.
Jus sanguinis (right of blood): Citizenship is determined by the nationality of one or both parents,
regardless of where the child was born.
Naturalization: A legal process through which a non-citizen may voluntarily acquire citizenship.
Requirements often include a period of residency, knowledge of the local language and civics, and
swearing an oath of allegiance.
Marriage: In some countries, citizenship can be acquired through marriage to a citizen.
Investment: A path to citizenship that requires a significant financial contribution to a country's
economy.
Citizenship vs. other forms of membership
Citizenship is distinct from other forms of belonging, such as nationality or residency:
Feature Citizen Resident (or National
Alien)
Rights Holds full civil, Possesses most A broader
political, and civil and social category, denoting
social rights, rights but is a legal
including the typically denied relationship with a
right to vote and full political state. Full citizens
hold public rights. are nationals, but
office. not all nationals
necessarily hold
full citizenship
rights.
Allegiance Owes full Owes allegiance Owes allegiance
allegiance to the and is subject to to the state. May
state. the laws of the also include
host country. entities like
corporations or
ships.
Protection Entitled to the Entitled to Entitled to the
state's full protection under state's protection
protection, the law but lacks abroad.
including diplomatic
diplomatic protection
protection abroad.
abroad.
Mobility Has an Can be denied The right to enter
unconditional entry or expelled and remain varies
right to enter under certain depending on the
and remain in circumstances. specific legal
the country and status.
cannot be
expelled.
