ABSTRACT
What is citizenship? Formally, a citizen can be regarded as a naturalized member of a nation state who is entitled to a package of rights by virtue of their citizenship. In democratic societies, the classic citizenship right involves the entitlement
to have a say in who governs at local and national levels. More broadly, in advanced societies, citizenship brings with it an entitlement to a raft of benefits ranging from the right to protection and representation to the right to state support if living standards are in danger of falling below an agreed threshold. The rights of citizenship tend to be accompanied by a series of responsibilities under which various ‘entitlements’ are deliverable conditionally in the event that the citizenmeets a defined set of obligations. The right to income support in a period of unemployment, for example, is often conditional on providing proof of job search activity. Similarly, the right to vote in general elections may be removed from those who have been incarcerated for committing certain crimes.
