University of SurreyIssues in Politics Today

What is Citizenship?

Outline

Origins of Citizenship Participation in Public Affairs Identity – Inclusion/Exclusion What rights does a citizen have Global Citizenship

Citizenship

Concerned with membership of a political community

Relationship between individuals and a political community and between individuals

Rights & Responsibilities – but which rights and which responsibilities?

Classical Origins of Citizenship

Originates in Ancient Greece – circa 700-600BC

Participation in the affairs of government

Roman conception – came to be more about legal status – way if integrating conquered peoples into the Empire

Classical Origins of Citizenship II

Classical models raise 3 elements of citizenship which continue to be debated

1. Participation in public affairs2. Inclusion/Exclusion – who is a

citizen?3. Rights – but which rights?

1. Participation in public affairs

Can take many forms – voting to jury duty Concern about falling participation in many

western democracies In the UK – led to citizenship education

classes To be active participatory citizens – need to

be informed about - the balance between rights & responsibilities- the value of participation in the community- the opportunities to participate

2. Identity – Inclusion/Exclusion

How to include people from diverse backgrounds

Equal rights for all? But do they accommodate cultural difference, or suppress it?

Multicultural rights – different rights to take account of and celebrate our difference? But common citizenship?

3. What rights does a citizen have?

Civil rights (civil liberties) Political rights (to participate in process of

government) Social rights? Some argue social rights are necessary

for other rights to be enjoyed Others argue we have obligation to

provide for our own welfare & that social rights make us passive, not active citizens

Global Citizenship

Citizenship at the national level But what about Global Citizenship Universal human rights – UN Declaration

of Human Rights (1948) – rights no matter where you live

Global responsibilities – the environment People participate & campaign on global

issues (e.g. poverty in Africa) Global citizenship lacks formal status –

but has rights, responsibilities & participation