Understanding Citizenship: Rights, Duties, and Historical Context
Citizenship is a broad concept that is closely related to society, politics, law, employment, and ethics. It is defined theoretically and practically, progressively extending its meaning. “Being a citizen” status is expressed by recognizing the individual embedded in a community with certain rights and duties in their relations with others and with the state. Socially, the citizen has certain rights and duties in their social relationships with others within civil society and a particular physical space. Legally and politically, the citizen submits to the authority and laws of the state, which should promote, develop, secure, and protect these rights. Culturally, contemporary societies are multicultural, with diverse cultural identities that must balance the rights and duties of all members. Ethically, the citizen must recognize the dignity of every human being as a person of unit value in diversity, which must be respected by everyone—free, conscious, rational, emotional, and responsible.
Features of the Development of Citizenship:
- Membership: The citizen feels a member of society and the state, forming their social identity within the political community.
- Integration: A civil society and national policy require universality and uniformity of rights and duties for its citizens, recognizing and guaranteeing the rights and duties of minorities.
- Participation: Citizens participate in the management of the public, maintaining and developing democracy, which is fundamental to citizenship.
- Universal: Citizen status should be extended to all members.
- Subject: Contrary to the concept of “citizen,” being a member of a state does not confer the status of citizen. Members may be subject to the power of undemocratic political authority or the laws of a non-democratic state.
In a democratic state of law, political authority and laws are legitimized by the participation of its members. The model of Citizen Republican Citizenship emphasizes individual freedom and equality before the law for all citizens. As part of the political community, individuals can participate in public life and politics, which is essential for their commitment. Their freedom is linked to that of other multicultural citizens.
Citizen Rights and Duties:
- Rights: To be recognized as a free citizen in their activities under the laws of the state, participate in decisions and government projects, elect their representatives, and not be discriminated against.
- Duties: To cooperate in the pursuit of order and peace, contribute to eradicating corruption, participate responsibly in elections and political referendums, and respect and submit to the laws.
Democracy is not possible without people defending their rights and duties within ethical, legal, and political frameworks. A brief history of the development of citizenship reveals that in the 5th century BC, in the Greek polis, a number of rights and duties were known to free males over 30, who were responsible for education and training on public life issues. The polis was necessary for achieving justice and the common good. The organization of powers must meet this end according to just laws, which are considered “good” ethically. Practicing virtue is based on just laws, and a just community proclaims equality for all citizens. Education is key to building individuals’ capacity for critical thinking, virtue, truth, and goodness, helping them subdue their passions and acquire ethical virtues to prepare for governance.
Later, Hellenistic philosophy extended the concept of citizenship to accept a common human nature and reason. No human is alien to another; the community dictates that universal reason, according to law, establishes human rights and duties of kindness and dedication to serving the community. The utility of society is based primarily on ethical and educational aspects. In the Roman Empire, individuals were recognized by law as citizens, which conferred certain rights and demanded duties to act according to the law. The community association of men was united by common laws, and Roman citizens were not required to participate in public affairs.
In the Middle Ages, the title of citizen was lost due to feudal society, where there was only spiritual equality. Human society is flawed politically and should reflect a hierarchy with God at the top, making man a subject of divine authority. During the Renaissance, human agencies and religious controls were freed, recognizing the capacity to participate in public affairs and relations with the state and among its members. The Enlightenment highlighted social, legal, political, and ethical issues as fundamental components of the rights and duties of citizens, who are free and equal within the political framework of state authority.
Citizenship is based on secularism, freedom of conscience, and tolerance. This gives way to the liberal model of citizenship, which emphasizes the individual, their rights and freedoms, and private life against political power and the public sphere. The Declaration on the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1789 states that the law is equal for all. Everyone has equal rights to be eligible for public office without distinction other than their virtues and talents. Various socialist thoughts have broadened the concept of citizenship, ensuring that individual liberty and equality before the law are not exclusive to one social class. Participation in public life is defended because every citizen is part of the community where they develop their political and social identity.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 expands the legal rights established in 1789, recognizing economic, social, and cultural rights for all human beings without discrimination. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of European citizens collect civil, political, economic, and social rights of Union citizens and residents, developing a new concept of citizenship that exceeds the limits of European states. Citizens of each of these states recognize their rights as citizens in other Union states, acknowledging human dignity as the basis for all rights.