Merriam-Webster defines the word citizenship quite simply as, “the status of being a citizen.” However, the term is far from simple, with some of today’s most fought over issues stemming from what the term actually means and those who possess it.
A panel of BU faculty, whose perspectives range from political science, international relations, classical studies and law met last Thursday at the LAW Auditorium to discuss the meaning of citizenship at this year’s Gitner Family CAS Lecture titled, “The Promises, Responsibilities and Challenges of Citizenship” at BU’s LAW Auditorium.
Neta Crawford, chair of the political science department in the College of Arts and Sciences, opened the talk with remarks on citizenship as an idea, as an identity, and what it means to be a non-citizen.
“There’s no particular requirement, but to be a better citizen, we should be able to deliberate and understand policies,” Crawford said in an interview following the panel. “Democratic deliberation requires our participation.”
Jay Samons, a professor of classical studies in CAS, discussed citizenship and democracy’s ancient Greek origins. The ancient Greeks believed that each individual citizen was part of the general minority and in return for the privileges society provided them, the individual had to participate. This included serving in the military and paying taxes.
While discussing nationality, Susan Akram, a clinical law professor and the director of BU Law’s International Human Rights Clinic, discussed the divide between statelessness and citizenship, explaining that under international law it is illegal to deprive someone of nationality or citizenship if it makes them stateless — if they are no longer considered a national by any state or nation.
Akram also made the audience aware of the rise of denaturalization, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration increasing it thrice-fold. She concluded that these current trends violate protections granted by international law.
Dean of Arts and Sciences Emirta and political science professor Virgina Sapiro spoke on personhood, property and women’s suffrage.
“Citizenship is a living concept that we need to think about,” Sapiro said, “but it’s not obvious what is or who has it, but it is completely worth trying to think about that and why it’s so difficult amid so many changes.”
Andrew Bacevitch, professor emeritus of international relations and history at BU, talked about the U.S. as the preeminent world military power, looking at the country before the Vietnam War.
Bacevitch proposed that if the American people wanted to be serious about a successful democracy and military system, the country should at least debate the possibility of national required service. This, in turn, would provide a sense of earning citizenship.
Anika Ramchandani, a junior in CAS, said she found Bacevitch’s idea compelling.
“One thing that really stuck out to me was the idea of creating a national service requirement, which is something I never would have thought to be a valid requirement in our country, but now I’m almost considering that it’s necessary to engage voter participation for citizens,” said Ramchandani
Although plenty of the discussion surrounding citizenship at the panel focused on its origins and how it has shifted throughout history, Crawford sees its modern applications directly.
“I have a 19-year-old kid,” Crawford said. “And I would say that she and her friends are appreciative of the rights that we have, but want to use them to their full extent. Those rights include the right to envision a better world and to be critical of the world we’re in.”