Nieuwe publicatie: 'The Culturalization of Citizenship'
Citizenship today is increasingly defined in terms of culture. Citizenship comes to depend more on adherence to national culture - norms, values, practices and traditions - and less on rights and socio-economic participation. But what does this culturalization of citizenship imply for human rights? The 'Culturalization of Citizenship' is a new book, edited by Jan Willem Duyvendak, Peter Geschiere and Evelien Tonkens.
The notion of citizenship has gradually evolved from being simply a legal status or practice to a deep sentiment. Belonging, or feeling at home, has become a requirement. The book analyzes how 'feeling rules' are developed and applied to migrants, who are increasingly expected to express feelings of attachment, belonging, connectedness and loyalty to their new country.
More than this, however, it demonstrates how this culturalization of citizenship is a global trend with local variations, which develop in relation to each other. The authors pay particular attention to the intersection between sexuality, race and ethnicity, spurred on by their awareness of the dialectical construction of homosexuality, held up as representative of liberal Western values by both those in the West and by African leaders, who use such claims as proof that homosexuality is un-African.
Citizenship today is increasingly defined in terms of culture. Citizenship comes to depend more on adherence to national culture - norms, values, practices and traditions - and less on rights and socio-economic participation. But what does this culturalization of citizenship imply for human rights? A panel discussion to celebrate the booklaunch of 'Culturalization of Citizenship', edited by Jan Willem Duyvendak, Peter Geschiere and Evelien Tonkens.