What does it take to become a citizen of a particular nation? In a globalizing world, and with increasing international mobility, is it justified to restrict membership of a society? If so, on what grounds? Do societies need a distinctive national culture in order to thrive – and should this be a factor in the allocation of citizenship to those migrating from elsewhere? How is national identity actually perceived among the existing citizens of western countries?

Publication details and link to source: Gideon Calder, Phillip Cole and Jonathan Seglow (eds.), ‘Citizenship Acquisition and Natural Belonging. Migration, Membership and the Liberal Democratic State’, Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.