ABSTRACT

The rituals of inclusion and exclusion ultimately crystallize into criteria of political identity and participation. This chapter explores citizenship as an issue relating to social membership and participation then the question of citizenship is as old as human society as such. However, it's too vague and it is more meaningful sociologically to open this discussion of citizenship with Greek politics where the notion of the city-state and cultural membership became clearly identified in an articulate political philosophy. Abrahamic faiths laid the ideological foundation for a universalistic definition of social membership not based upon blood or kinship. The Abrahamic faiths have made an important historical contribution to citizenship, despite their overt rejection of politics as a diversion from the true life of spirituality. French Revolution was a major feature of the rise of a modern concept of citizenship linked to social change, political liberation and economic equality.