From Cultural Popularity to the Paradox of Relevance: A Critical Discourse on the Endangered Status of Citizenship Theory

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the endangered status of the concept of citizenship. The methodology employed consists of textual analysis and philosophical argumentation. The main findings of the paper are:

(1) The boundary of the meaning of citizenship keeps changing.

(2) Citizenship constitutes one of the most worrisome sources of conflict in modern states.

(3) There is no objectively correct interpretation of citizenship, both in its historical and contemporary understanding.

The conclusion drawn from the findings is that various factors, especially the multicultural character of most contemporary societies, are impinging on the possibility of developing a theory of citizenship that is universally applicable and globally acceptable.

Key Words. Citizenship, citizenship theory, equality, multiculturalism, globalization

 

Thought and Practice: A Journal of the Philosophical Association of Kenya (PAK)

New Series, Vol.3 No.1, June 2011, pp.145-164