The Contradictions of the Concept of Citizenship – Theoretical Considerations

Abstract

In modern, democratic societies, citizenship designates the individual's membership in the community. Being a citizen of a particular state, possessing its passport or identity card is a valuable, special status, since the citizen is entitled to several individual, civil and political rights. This article aims to analyse the fundamental contradictions inherent in the concept of citizenship by focusing on theoretical approaches. In presenting the European history of citizenship concepts, two basic models, the territorial and the ethno-cultural ones are introduced. At the end of paper, the new, post-national citizenship theories are examined.