Citizenship and Federalism

Abstract

Within federal structures, citizens in a nested manner can affiliate with both states/provinces (subnational entities) & the national entity, conflict rules designate which citizenship type serves which purpose, & subnational & national governments provide alternative forums for competing claims about citizenship. These structures provide a framework within which to construct multinational citizenship. Conflicts between the concepts of citizenship as identity & as equality, & voting & loyalty issues in multinational citizenship are analyzed, citing experiences with citizenship rules in Western democracies. The benefits of multiple citizenship are weighted against the drawbacks, especially their ability to create intrapolity inequalities & destabilize ethnonationalisms. 93 References. M. Pflum