Review article

Citizenship, National Identity and Migration: European Perspective

Jelena Zlatković Winter ; Institut za migracije i narodnosti, Zagreb

Abstract

The author examines links between citizenship, national identity and migration as these issues have become politically important in the new independent countries as well as in Western Europe. Firsts, she analyzes the meaning of the citizenship concept and that of the basic concepts pertaining to it. What type of citizenship is applied by any individual country; who may cross a country's borders and live and work in it; and who may not - all of these are analyzed against the meaning of the term citizenship something that varies from country to country as the concept of citizenship is shaped by a country’s individual legislative traditions, history and aspirations. Therefore, points the author out, citizenship as a concept is linked to the notion of the nation, of minorities within it and democracy because no other question is more relevant to demonstrate the way a political community wishes to define itself. The concept of nationality, the author explains, influences immigration policies. Different national traditions and political cultures have resulted in varying extents to which immigrants are integrated. The key question that has become the focus of the article pertains to the type of citizenship institutionalized by the state and various solutions to include all permanent residents in its community life. The problem which has provoked these questions is the existence of 10-12 million people permanently settled as foreign residents in Western Europe today but the number of those seeking citizenship in their respective host countries is relatively low even after 10-15 years of residence. Why is the rate of naturalization low, the author tries to answer in the last part of the article as she puts forward possible solutions.

Keywords

citizenship; national identity; national minorities; migration politics; naturalization

Hrčak ID:

154136

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154136

Publication date:

30.6.2001.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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