Citizenship Revisited - Threats or Opportunities of Shifting Boundaries (Hardcover)

Strangely, citizenship has usually been considered as a matter of interest when it is questioned or even withheld. The other way round, usually citizenship is taken for granted 'as it is', not being defined as such. In consequence we find only a negative definition rather than a clear way of spelling out the meaning. As globalisation spreads and deepens, the question of citizenship becomes crucial for society. It is already possible to see changes in voting patterns in such a country as France due to its immigration policies. This has long been the case in America as well, and is being felt there yet again by the effects of the citizenships of its newest immigrants. The contributions in this volumes are dealing with different aspects of defining citizenship -- though not necessarily conceptualising it as such, i.e. under this term. These are burning questions which this book explores in this explosive national and international issue. Contents: Introduction; Citizenship Revisited: Threats and Opportunities of Shifting Boundaries; Globalisation as Seen from the Local Level; Self-Improved Citizens: Citizenship, Social Inclusion and the Self in the Politics of Welfare; Citizen Partici