Unit 01: Understanding Citizenship

Which processes and trends have influenced the contemporary discourse on citizenship? What is citizenship? How is the concept relevant to issues of actor-oriented perspectives on rights and development? The focus of the first Unit is to address these fundamental questions. The aim is to approach the concept of citizenship within a wider understanding of rights and development.  This would enable a meaningful discussion on citizenship as an active and participatory process. 

On the completion of this Unit, you should have a clear grasp of:

• The processes and trends that have influenced an understanding of the concept of citizenship in contemporary times;
• Dominant perspectives on citizenship;
• Understanding citizenship;
• Issues of citizenship in the context of human rights and development;
• Emerging notion of citizenship as ‘active’, ‘participatory’ or ‘inclusive’.