Thestoryofcitizenshipasatalenotofliberation,dignity,andnationhoodbutofcomplacency,hypocrisy,anddomination.Theglorificationofcitizenshipisagivenintoday’sworld,partofacivicnarrativethatinvokesliberation,dignity,andnationhood.Inreality,explainsDimitryKochenov,citizenshipisastoryofcomplacency,hypocrisy,anddomination,flatteringtocitizensanddemeaningfornoncitizens.InthisvolumeintheMITPressEssentialKnowledgeseries,Kochenovexplainsthestateofcitizenshipinthemodernworld.Kochenovoffersacriticalintroductiontoasubjectmostoftenregardeduncritically,describingwhatcitizenshipis,whatitentails,howitcameabout,andhowitsroleintheworldhasbeenchanging.Heexaminesfourkeyelementsoftheconcept:status,consideringhowandwhythestatusofcitizenshipisextended,whatfunctionitserves,andwhoisleftbehind;rights,particularlytherighttoliveandworkinastate;duties,andwhatitmeanstobea“goodcitizen“;andpolitics,asenactedinthegrantingandenjoymentofcitizenship.Citizenshippromisestoapplytheattractiveideasofdignity,equality,andhumanworth--buttostrictlyseparatedgroupsofindividuals.Thoseoutsidetheseparationaren’tcitizensascurrentlyunderstood,andtheydonotbelong.Citizenship,Kochenovwarns,istoooftenalegaltoolthatjustifiesviolence,humiliation,andexclusion.
