Neoliberal communitarian citizenship: Current trends towards ‘earned citizenship’ in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands

Abstract

As Western European nation-states adapt to the challenges posed to the nation-state by globalization and immigration, adjusting citizenship criteria for immigrants has been one of the responses to these developments. This article compares the current changes in citizenship policies of three Western European states: the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. The main concern of the article is to shed light on the emerging development of a form of neoliberal communitarian citizenship that involves an increased emphasis on the need to earn one’s citizenship. While many have signalled a shift towards neoliberal citizenship, this study assesses to what extent such a shift is characterized by a contractual view that sees citizenship no longer primarily as a prima facie right but as a prized possession that is to be earned and can be lost if not properly cultivated. At the same time, the study analyses the content of citizenship criteria to see how the nation-state in these three countries is sacralized by an emphasis on the national community. These two trends of earned citizenship are conceptualized in the study as neoliberal communitarianism.

Party Positions on Economic Criteria for Naturalization in Austria

“…These criteria usually take the form of meeting an income threshold, not drawing certain welfare benefits, being in long‐term employment or paying substantial fees. While some studies provide a comparative perspective on the development of such criteria (van Houdt et al., ; Stadlmair, ), this article focuses on the arguments and narratives underlying such a conditionality of economic and legal status. In recent scholarship on the politicization of immigration and diversity, two stances on the relation between economic performance and access to rights can be highlighted: First, narratives of welfare chauvinism denote a view in which only members of the ethnic community should be eligible to draw welfare benefits (Bale, ).…”

Active citizenship, dissent and civic consciousness: young Muslims redefining citizenship on their own terms

“…In post-war Britain, citizenship was predominantly shaped by Marshall's triad of rights; 'civil, political and social ' (1950' ( in Turner 2001 designed to safeguard citizens from the 'injustices caused by the capitalist market' (Soysal 2012, 1). Cultural rights have since gained prominence which can be understood as claims for 'recognition without marginalisation, acceptance and integration without "normalising" distortion' (Pakulski 1997, 80).…”

“…These accounts of active citizenship reference a different set of ideals and objectives which deviate radically from the way in which neoliberal governance links good citizenship to gaining economic and social capital for the benefit of the nation (van Houdt, Suvarierol, and Schinkel 2011;Soysal 2012). Invoking a more communitarian (Isin and Wood 1999) concept of citizenship, both Salman and Zahir view civic engagement as an obligation to serve society based on a faith-based or humanitarian moral code.…”

Entanglements of Economic and Intimate Citizenship: Individualization and Gender (In)Equality in a Changing Europe

“…For those who migrate from the country of their birth, it is suggested that citizenship is increasingly framed as a right to be bestowed exclusively on those individuals who have already secured access to the labour market of their host country; this is described as "earned citizenship" (van Houdt, Suvarieol et al 2011). It thus seems necessary to distinguish more clearly between "social citizenship" issues, which refer to various social benefits, and women's direct access to rights, resources and recognition (Lister 1997) through their own participation in paid labour.…”