Citizenship Notes in English Class 11 Political Science Chapter-6 Book-2

 

What is citizenship?

Full and equal membership of a political community. 

Citizenship is defined as full and equal membership of a political community. 

In the contemporary world, nations provide their members with a collective political identity as well as certain rights. 

So we consider ourselves Indians, Japanese or Germans depending on the nation we belong to. Citizens expect some basic rights from their nation as well as support and security in travelling anywhere.

The importance of being a full member of a nation can be well understood when we think about the situation of thousands of people around the world who are unfortunately forced to live as refugees and illegal immigrants because no nation is willing to grant them membership.

Such people are not guaranteed any national rights and they generally live in insecure conditions. 

Full membership in a nation of their choice is a goal they are willing to fight for, as we see today in the case of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.

The precise nature of the rights granted to citizens may vary from nation to nation, but most democratic countries today include some political rights among them.

Right to vote, right to contest elections, right to form a political party, freedom of expression or belief 

Such as civil rights and some socio-economic rights related to minimum wages or getting education. 

Struggle for equal citizenship 

1. Struggle against monarchies

2. French Revolution 

3. Struggle for equal citizenship against colonialism in Asia 

4. Struggle for equal citizenship against colonization in Africa 

The black population of Africa had to fight a long struggle against the ruling white minority to achieve equal citizenship in South Africa. 

This conflict continued until the early 1990s.

The struggle to achieve full membership and equal rights continues in many parts of the world. 

Example - Women's movement and Dalit movement 

Objective: To change public opinion by drawing attention to their needs, as well as to influence government policies to ensure equal rights and opportunities.

Full and equal membership

If you have ever travelled in a crowded train compartment or bus, you will be aware of the trend where people who might have earlier fought each other to gain entry, once inside join in a common interest to keep others out. Soon the division between 'insider' and 'outsider' emerges and the 'outsider' is seen as a threat.

If facilities for livelihood, medical care or education, and natural resources such as land and water are limited, there is a possibility of demands arising to prevent entry of 'outsiders', even if they are fellow citizens.

You may remember the slogan 'Mumbai for Mumbaikar (Mumbaiwala)' which expressed such sentiments. There have been many such struggles in various parts of India and the world.

This raises the question: what exactly does “full and equal membership” mean? 

Does this mean that citizens should have equal rights and opportunities to live, study or work wherever they want in the country?  Or should all citizens, rich and poor, get some basic rights and facilities? 

Freedom of movement  is one of the rights enjoyed by citizens in our country and many other countries  . (Freedom to travel anywhere in the country)

This right is of special importance for workers  because when opportunities are not available in their home region, workers tend to migrate in search of employment.

Some people also go abroad in search of employment. 

Markets for skilled and unskilled labourers have developed in different parts of our country. 

Example - Most information technology workers gravitate towards cities like Bangalore. 

• Kerala nurses can be found anywhere in the country. 

• The booming construction industry in cities attracts workers from different parts of the country. 

• There is often a feeling of resistance among the local people against the large number of jobs being taken over by outsiders. 

• There are demands to restrict certain jobs or works to natives of the state or those who know the local language. 

• Political parties raise this issue. 

• This resistance also takes the form of organised violence against the 'outsider'. 

• Almost all regions of India have gone through such movements.

equal rights

Does full and equal citizenship mean that certain basic rights and a minimum standard of living should be guaranteed by the state to all citizens, whether rich or poor? 

• To consider this issue, we will look at a particular class of people, i.e., the urban poor. 

• The problem related to the urban poor is one of the problems which is staring at the government.

• In every city of India, a huge population consists of people living in slums and on illegally occupied lands. 

• These people perform useful work, often at low wages, yet the rest of the city's population views them as unwanted guests.

• They are accused of becoming a burden on the city's resources or of spreading crime and disease.

slums 

• The conditions in slums are very bad. 

• Many people live in small rooms. 

• There is neither private toilet nor water supply nor sanitation here. 

• Life and property are unsafe in slums.

• Slum dwellers contribute significantly to the economy through their labour.

• They may be hawkers, petty traders, cleaners or domestic servants, plumbers or mechanics, among other occupations. 

• Small businesses like weaving or cloth dyeing-printing or tailoring also run in the slums.

• Any city probably spends relatively little on providing amenities such as  sanitation or water supply to slum dwellers  .

• There is growing awareness of the plight of the urban poor among the slum dwellers themselves, as well as by the government, voluntary organisations and other agencies. 

• For example, a National Policy for Street Vendors was formulated in January 2004.

• There are millions of street vendors in big cities and they often have to face harassment from the police and city administrators.

• The aim of this policy was to provide recognition and regulation to vendors to empower them to conduct business free from harassment within the ambit of compliance of government regulations.

tribals and forest dwellers 

Other human groups that are being marginalized in our society include tribals and forest dwellers. 

These people depend on forests and other natural resources for their livelihood. 

The life-style and livelihood of many of them is under threat due to the pressure of increasing population and scarcity of land and resources. 

Another threat to the life style and livelihood of the tribal and forest dwelling people is the pressure of the interests of entrepreneurs wishing to mine the mineral resources present in the forests and Terai region. 

The tourism industry is doing the same. Governments are grappling with the question of how to protect these people and their habitat without jeopardizing the country's development.

It is not an easy matter for any government to consider and ensure equal rights and opportunities to all citizens. 

The needs and problems of different groups of people may differ and the rights of one group may be contrary to the rights of another group. 

Equal rights for citizens does not mean applying the same policies to all people, because different groups of people may have different needs. 

If the goal is not just to make policies that apply to all people in the same way but to bring people on a greater level of equality, then policies must take into account the different needs and claims of people.

Citizens and the nation 

The concept of the nation state developed in the modern period. 

Evolution of the Nation State:

• Developed in modern times.

• For the first time in 1789, the French revolutionaries claimed sovereignty and democratic rights.

National identity:

• Symbols such as the national anthem, flag, language, and culture are part of the national identity.

• The modern nation-state comprises people of different religions, languages, and cultural traditions.

Democratic Inclusion:

• In democratic states, an effort is made to give an inclusive identity to all citizens.

• But in practice this process is difficult for some groups.

Citizenship and Inclusion:

Example of France:

• France claims to be secular and inclusive.

• Citizens are expected to adopt French language and culture in public life.

• Controversy over the entry of religious symbols into public life . 

Rules of different countries:

Israel and Germany: 

• Preference given to religion and ethnicity in granting citizenship.

• The citizenship controversy of children of Turkish workers in Germany.

Citizenship in India:

Secular and Inclusive Approach:

• The freedom movement embraced diversity.

• The Constitution attempted to accommodate a diverse society.

• Gave equal rights to scheduled castes, tribes, women, and other communities.

Provisions of the Constitution:

• Modes of acquiring citizenship: birth, descent, registration, naturalization, and incorporation into the territory.

• Rights of religious and linguistic minorities protected.

Constitutional Rights and Duties:

• Provisions against discrimination.

• The display of diversity on Republic Day reflects inclusiveness.

Universal citizenship

Refugees Illegal Immigrants Stateless People When we think of refugees or illegal immigrants, many images come to mind. 

1. People from Asia or Africa who wish to travel to Europe or America 

2. People displaced by war or famine

• Often shown on television. 

• There are many examples such as refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan, Palestinian, Burmese or Bangladeshi refugees. 

• All these are people who have been forced to become refugees in their own country or neighboring country.

Citizenship and National Boundaries:

Citizenship Rules:

• Countries impose laws and restrictions to keep their borders secure and keep out unwanted immigrants.

• Provisions in the Constitution and laws for granting citizenship.

Example of India:

• Policy of providing shelter to persecuted people.

• In 1959, the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum.

• Frequent entry of illegal immigrants from bordering countries.

Challenges:

• The promise of democratic citizenship is hard to fulfill.

• Difficult to ensure identity and rights of stateless people.

• Despite bans, walls and fences, there is still large-scale migration of people around the world. 

• People are displaced due to war, persecution, famine or other reasons. 

• If no country agrees to accept them and they cannot return home, they become stateless or refugees. 

• They are forced to live in camps or as illegal migrants. 

Often they cannot work legally or educate their children or acquire property.  The problem is so severe that the United Nations has appointed a High Commissioner to investigate and help refugees.

Deciding how many people can be accepted as citizens remains a difficult humanitarian and political problem for many countries.  Many countries have policies to accept people fleeing war or persecution.  But they also may not want to accept an uncontrolled crowd of people or put the country at risk in terms of security.

• India takes pride in providing shelter to oppressed people. 

• India did this for the Dalai Lama and his followers in 1959. 

• People from neighboring countries have entered the Indian nation through all its borders and this process is continuing. 

• Many of these people languish for years as stateless people – in camps or as illegal migrants.

• Ultimately, relatively few of them acquire citizenship. 

Such problems challenge the promise of democratic citizenship, which maintains that all people in the contemporary world should have access to the identity and rights of a citizen.  Many people cannot acquire citizenship of the country of their choice, and do not even have the option of identifying with their country.

The question of stateless people has become a serious problem for the world today.  The boundaries of nations are still being redefined through war or political disputes and the consequences for the people caught in such disputes are disastrous.  They lose their homes, political identity and security and are forced to migrate. 

World citizenship

The concept of global citizenship, its importance How global communication and interconnectedness have strengthened the concept of global citizenship

Global Connectedness in the Modern Era:

New Means of Communication:

• The Internet, television, and cell phones have connected the world.

• Information about any event is now available instantly, making people in different parts of the world feel connected.

Shared Empathy:

• Wars, disasters and other events have developed empathy and common concern among people around the world.

• Global cooperation in disasters like the Asian tsunami is an example of this.

Concept of World Citizenship:

National as against Citizenship:

• National citizenship gives security and rights, but it looks at problems from a limited perspective.

• State cooperation is not enough to solve today's global problems.

Benefits of World Citizenship:

• Addressing problems that transcend national boundaries, such as the rights of migrants and stateless people.

• Ensuring basic human rights and security, no matter where people live.

Need for Joint Action:

• Many problems cannot be solved by national governments alone.

• World citizenship promotes coordination between different countries and governments.

Need for a Global Approach:

• Global citizenship reminds us that we live in an interconnected world.

• National citizenship needs to be combined with global responsibilities and partnerships.