Citizenship: A Very Short Introduction

by Bellamy, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780192802538
• ISBN10: 0192802534
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780191577680
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-11-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Interest in citizenship has never been higher. Politicians of all stripes stress its importance, as do church leaders, captains of industry and every kind of campaigning group--from those supporting global causes, such as tackling world poverty, to others with a largely local focus, such as combating neighborhood crime. In this brilliant, compact introduction, Richard Bellamy offers an eye-opening look at an idea that is as important as it is rare--the prospect of influencing government policy according to reasonably fair rules and on a more or less equal basis with others. Bringing together the most recent scholarship, the book sheds light on how ideas of citizenship have changed through time from ancient Greece to the present, looks at concepts such as membership and belonging, and highlights the relation between citizenship, rights, and democracy. Bellamy also examines the challenges confronting the very possibility of citizenship today, the impact of globalization, the desirability of "global citizenship," the teaching of citizenship in schools, citizenship tests for immigrants, and the many different definitions and types of citizenship in modern society.

Author Biography

Richard Bellamy is a Professor of Political Science and Director of the School of Public Policy at University College, London.

Table of Contents

Preface

What is citizenship, and why does it matter?

Theories of citizenship and their history

Membership and belonging

Rights and the right to have rights

Democracy and participation

References and Further Reading

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.