Understanding Citizenship: Rights, Duties, and Historical Models
Item 11: The Philosophical Construction of Citizenship
1. Analysis of the Concept of Citizenship
Citizenship defines how individuals relate to the state, encompassing both rights and duties. It is shaped by cultural identity, which signifies belonging to a specific culture, yet citizenship’s legal and political identity remains distinct. A nation, characterized by shared language and culture, differs from the state, which holds sovereign power. Historically, nations evolved from cultural communities into communities of citizens. The term ‘subject’ implies subordination to political power, contrasting with the active role of citizens in a democratic state where laws are sanctioned by the people.
Key categories in understanding citizenship include:
- Membership: Formal status within a political community.
- Integration: Incorporating individuals with universal rights and duties.
- Participation: Ranging from passive (voting) to active engagement in public affairs.
- Inclusion and Exclusion: Recognizing citizenship, potentially encompassing multicultural issues.
Historical Genesis of the Concept of Citizenship
The concept of citizenship has evolved, influenced by philosophers like Aristotle, Stoicism, and the Enlightenment. Aristotle viewed the city (polis) as a community aiming for the ‘good life,’ emphasizing justice and the rule of law. He advocated for democratic participation, where citizens both rule and are ruled. Stoicism introduced cosmopolitan citizenship, emphasizing universal reason and shared rights across communities. Republican citizenship, exemplified by Cicero, prioritizes the common good and public affairs. The Enlightenment further shaped modern citizenship by grounding it in dignity, autonomy, and reason.
3. Models of Citizenship
Three models help understand citizenship:
- The Civilian Component: Individual freedom rights.
- The Political Element: Right to participate in political power.
- The Social Element: Social, economic, and cultural rights.
These elements developed historically, with civil rights emerging in the 18th century, political rights in the 19th, and social rights in the 20th.
Liberal Tradition
- Priority of the individual over the public.
- Primacy of the private over the public sphere.
- Minimal State intervention.
- Individual freedom.
- Citizens as free and equal participants in social cooperation.
Republican Tradition
- Emphasis on participatory citizenship and public action.
- Importance of the public and political space.
- Commitment to the general interests of the political community.
- Interconnectedness of individual freedom with the freedom of others.
- Active citizenship through public deliberation and political responsibility.
Types of Rights and Citizenship
- Special rights of representation.
- Poly-ethnic rights.
- Self-government rights.
These correspond to three types of citizenship:
- Citizenship integrating group representation rights.
- Citizenship including ethnic demands.
- Self-governing citizenship.
Communitarianism
Communitarianism, a critique of liberalism, emphasizes specific communities and national citizenship. It stresses civic virtues like tolerance, solidarity, and responsibility, essential for a well-functioning citizenry. Virtues, as defined by Aristotle, enable citizens to fulfill their roles effectively.