Citizens as National and Global Stakeholders
Conceptions of citizenship have evolved beyond the boundaries of the nation state to encompass relationships across multiple organizations and global actors. In the process traditional rules and rights have also changed. The challenge now is balancing state, market and civil society in the light of these evolving concepts to create reinforcing networks of rights and obligations, and finding ways to underpin these networks with accountable, transparent and effective systems of governance.
This paper considers the impact on citizenship of various elements, such as: national programs; good governance; and the role of donors including their assistance models and exit strategies. It considers the case for and against addressing citizenship through the prism of state functionality, and how reforming approaches to citizenship can advance sustainable development within an increasingly interdependent world.