ABSTRACT
The aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis has seen a renewed focus on the costs
of economic and political inequality for democracy. Where levels of inequality are high,
many citizens no longer feel that they have an effective voice in the democratic process.
And, when high levels of inequality persist, these feelings of marginalization are
entrenched: the perception that the democratic process is unresponsive to the needs and
concerns of vulnerable citizens reinforces their unwillingness to participate. The result is
an underclass of silent citizens who are unaware of public issues, lack knowledge about
public affairs, do not debate, deliberate, protest, or hold office, and, most fundamentally,
do not exercise their voice in elections. The goal of this special issue of Citizenship Studies
is to investigate the relationship between silence and citizenship. We ask: What does silent
citizenship mean in a democracy?
