Nationality, Citizenship and Ethno-Cultural Belonging: Preferential Membership Policies in Europe [Hardcover]

This book challenges mainstream arguments about the de-ethnicization of citizenship in Europe, offering a critical discussion of normative justifications for ethno-cultural citizenship and an original elaboration of principles of membership suitable for contemporary liberal democratic states.Introduction PART I: CITIZENSHIP RULES IN EUROPE 1. Birthright Citizenship 2. Ordinary Naturalisation 3. Preferential Naturalisation 4. Loss of Citizenship PART II: ETHNO-CULTURAL CITIZENSHIP 5. A Sovereign Right 6. A Right to Self-Definition 7. A Remedial Right PART III: DIFFERENTIATED MEMBERSHIP 8. Normative Framework 9. The Regulation of Legal and Political Membership Conclusion

This book combines normative and empirical scrutiny of Europe's citizenship laws. Dumbrava shows why and how these fall short of liberal and democratic standards. As a political theorist, he asks what principles should guide the attribution of citizenship in democratic states; as a comparative political scientist he analyses preferential admission to citizenship on grounds of shared descent, ethnicity and culture in thirty-eight European states. Dumbrava's book does not only demonstrate that there is little convergence towards liberal standards of inclusion. It also develops highly original ideas about the foundations of citizenship. A very important and well-written contribution to a core aspect of democracy. Rainer Baub?ck, European University Institute, Italy

In this rich and detailed discussion of the role of ethno-cultural preferences in citizenship policies, Costica Dumbrava weaves together original empirical data and normative analyses. He enables us to see both the interpretive puzzles created by the question of what ought to count as an ethno-cultural preference and the normative issues at stake in allowing or forbidding such preferences. This is a valuable contribution. Joseph Carens, University of Toronto, Canada

Costica Dumbrava is PostdoctorlQ