Citizenship and the boundaries of the acknowledged community: identity, affiliation and exclusion.

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to the development of a research agenda on the theme of \"inclusive citizenship\", particularly the challenges in presents in the context of poorer southern countries today. Through a historical analysis, it argues that the notions of citizenship constructed in the West are inappropriate in post-colonial contexts, in which pre-existing differences within the population have been exacerbated or artifically suppressed by the strategic manoeuverings of colonial power. As a result, prevailing ideas about personhood, identity and affiliation lead to fractured notions of citizenship and exclusionary outcomes. The author concludes proposing three themes for future research into inclusive citizenship in the South.

Citation

IDS Working Paper 171, Brighton, UK, IDS, ISBN 1-85864-473-9, 48 pp.

Citizenship and the boundaries of the acknowledged community: identity, affiliation and exclusion.

Published 1 January 2002