Citizenship: Discourse, Theory, and Transnational Prospects

A significant addition to the growing body of literature in the field, this wide–ranging overview explores the important role of citizenship in the world’s liberal democracies and how it is evolving. Long a neglected topic in the social sciences, citizenship is now at the forefront of scholarly discussions on democracy worldwide. In an increasingly global society, constructive dialogue on various themes shaping citizenship studies is indispensable. Citizenship: Discourse, Theory, and Transnational Prospects reviews the four broadly conceived themes that shape contemporary citizenship – inclusion, erosion, withdrawal, and expansion – and highlights their interconnectedness. This important new look at the current and future state of citizenship will appeal to anyone interested in the study of immigration, political sociology, or globalization.

1. Introduction. 2. Inclusion. 3. Erosion. 4. Withdrawal. 5. Expansion. 6. Future Trends. References

Peter Kivisto is Richard Swanson Professor of Social Thought and Professor and Chair of Sociology at Augustana College. He is the author of Immigrant Socialists in the United States (1984), For Democracy (1993), and Americans All (1995), and is the editor of The Ethnic Enigma (1989) and Multiculturalism in the United States (2000). Dr Kivisto is also the editor of The Sociological Quarterly . Thomas Faist is Professor of Transnational Relations and Development Studies at the Faculty of Sociology at Bielefeld University. He is the author of The Volume and Dynamics of International Migration and Transnational Social Spaces (2000), Transnational Social Spaces (2004), and The Politics of Dual Citizenship in Europe (2007). He currently directs a project on transnational migration and development. He is the Deputy Editor of The Sociological Quarterly .

“Citizenship has emerged as one of the crucial issues in sociology, uniting such topics as globalization, immigration, multiculturalism and ethnic conflict, the future of the welfare state, and the meaning of contemporary national politics. Kivisto and Faist provide a lively introduction and show why the question of citizenship has come to supplant many of the traditional concerns of both the Left and Right.” Stephen Turner, University of South Florida <!––end––> “An impressive achievement. A comprehensive but concise account of the field of citizenship studies, delivering a decisive challenge to re–thinking citizenship.” Bryan S. Turner, National University of Singapore “Citizenship should be a central concern for sociology. Kivisto and Faist offer a concise and clear review of conceptual frameworks, historical trends, the current situation and future directions, which will be helpful to students and teachers alike.” Craig Calhoun, New York University “This work would be a useful primer for a class in political sociology or for any class that deals with ‘citizenship.’” Choice