The ‘Windrush Generation’ and Citizenship

Commonwealth citizens who came to the UK in the period after the Second World War are now close to retirement age and their right to live in the UK has come under challenge, with catastrophic consequences for some. The story has become a major political scandal and has led to the resignation of the Home Secretary Amber Rudd. It is a rare instance of public and mainstream media support for migrants. Read More …

Towards dual citizenship in Norway

On 20 December 2017, the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security sent out for consultation a proposition to abolish the principle of single citizenship. Under current law, Norwegian citizens lose their citizenship when voluntarily acquiring a new one, while naturalising immigrants Read More …

“Restore the factory settings”: Efforts to control executive discretion in nationality administration in Africa

March 2018 saw a series of bold rulings by African courts to protect both prominent politicians and ordinary people against excessive discretion in decisions relating to the right to a nationality. Most notably, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in its first decision touching on nationality administration, found Tanzania in violation of norms against arbitrary deprivation of nationality. Read More …

Tales of changing citizenship: what applicants told me about the process of making Britain their home

People who successfully apply for British citizenship are seldom asked to recount their stories. They simply carry on with their lives. But how does it really feel to go through the process of becoming a British citizen? What does achieving citizenship mean to those who gain it? How does it affect their sense of identity and belonging? To answer these questions for my new book, Britishness, Belonging and Citizenship I spoke to 30 successful applicants about their experiences. Read More …