CITIZENSHIP
When you’re a citizen of a country, that country provides you with a set of rights, such as the right to vote, freedom of speech, and possibly even socio-economic rights like education or a minimum wage. This is the most direct relationship between a citizen and the state, and it’s often what people first think about when they hear the word citizenship.
For people who don’t have the security of belonging to a state — such as refugees or illegal migrants — life can be very difficult. They lack legal protections, access to social services, and even the most basic form of identity. The situation of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, for instance, highlights how crucial it is to belong to a political community.
Rights that we often take for granted today were hard-won over time. Whether it was the fight against monarchies in Europe, colonial rule in Asia and Africa, or racial segregation in South Africa, people had to struggle to gain the rights we associate with citizenship. Modern movements, like those fighting for women’s rights or the rights of marginalised communities (like the dalits in India), continue this struggle for equal rights and opportunities.
But citizenship isn’t just a set of rights or a form of legal identification. It’s also about the responsibilities and connections between citizens themselves. This involves not only legal obligations, like obeying the law or paying taxes, but moral obligations as well. As a citizen, you’re part of a larger community, and you have a role to play in contributing to its well-being. This can include anything from being a good neighbour to active involvement in civic life.