Statelessness and Citizenship: A Comparative Study on the Benefits of Nationality

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that there are more than 12 million stateless people in the world. The existence of stateless populations challenges some central tenets of international law and contemporary human rights discourses, yet only a very small number of states have made measurable progress in helping individuals acquire or regain citizenship. This fascinating study examines positive developments in eight countries and pinpoints the benefits of citizenship now enjoyed by formerly stateless persons. The expert contributors present an original comparative study that draws upon legal and political analysis as well as empirical research (incorporating over 120 interviews conducted in eight countries), and features the documentary photography of Greg Constantine. The benefits of citizenship over statelessness are identified at both community and individual level, and include the fundamental right to enjoy a nationality, to obtain identification documents, to be represented politically, to access the formal labor market and to move about freely. Gaining or reacquiring citizenship helps eliminate isolation and solicits the empowerment of individuals, collectively and personally. Such changes are of considerable importance to the advancement of a human rights regime based on dignity and respect. This highly original and thought-provoking book will strongly appeal to a wide-ranging audience including academics, researchers, students, human rights activists and government officials with an interest in a diverse range of fields encompassing law, international studies, public policy, human rights and citizenship.

Table of Contents:
Contents: 1. Statelessness and the Deprivation of Nationality Brad K. Blitz and Maureen Lynch 2. Nationality and Rights Laura van Waas 3. Citizenship in Kenya: The Nubian Case Abraham Korir Sing’Oei 4. From Erased and Excluded to Active Participants in Slovenia Jelka Zorn 5. From Statelessness to Citizenship: Up-country Tamils in Sri Lanka P.P. Sivapragasam 6. Citizenship Reform and Challenges for the Crimean Tatars in Ukraine Rustem Ablyatifov 7. The Urdu-speakers of Bangladesh: An Unfinished Story of Enforcing Citizenship Rights Katherine Southwick 8. Mauritania: Citizenship Lost and Found Julia Harrington Reddy 9. Statelessness, Citizenship and Belonging in Estonia Raivo Vetik 10. Arabia’s Bidoon Abbas Shiblak 11. Summary and Conclusions Maureen Lynch and Brad K. Blitz 12. Epilogue James A. Goldston Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Edited by Brad K. Blitz, Professor of International Politics and Policy, University College London, UK and Maureen Lynch, Washington-based Affiliate, International Observatory on Statelessness

Review :
‘In our supposedly borderless world, having a nationality, and thus access to documents which permit travel and proof of identity, has become increasingly important. In many parts of the world, including the cases in Europe, Africa and Asia covered in this collection, large groups of people struggle with forms of de facto or de jure statelessness. In addition to providing a conceptual framework derived from international human rights norms for understanding better the phenomenon of statelessness, this collection presents important empirical research material helping us to understand, from the ground up, how statelessness is experienced.’ ‘What difference does citizenship make? The vulnerability of stateless persons clearly demonstrates the benefits of having a nationality. But so far nobody has examined how much the situation of stateless persons improves when they finally get documents and citizenship status. This exploratory study analyses practical difficulties and real progress in overcoming statelessness. It gives voice to the victims and sets a political agenda. Academic researchers, non-governmental organizations and policy-makers should read this book.’ ‘Embracing a subject that is generally treated abstractly, as a matter of human rights law, the authors of this pathbreaking book root statelessness deep into historical context and lived experience. They emerge with conclusions that are both dismaying (the expansive scope of the problem) and hopeful (the measurable progress some states have made in expanding the boundaries of citizenship). Alas, this eloquent book could hardly be more timely.’