Beyond Citizenship
American Identity After Globalization
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:1st Feb '08
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book explores how globalization is reshaping American identity and citizenship, suggesting that traditional notions of belonging are becoming outdated.
In Beyond Citizenship, Peter J. Spiro delves into the evolving concept of American identity, highlighting the tension between traditional notions of citizenship and the realities of globalization. He argues that while American citizenship has historically been tied to geography and national character, these connections are increasingly strained as individuals engage with the world beyond borders. As globalization progresses, the definition of what it means to be an American is shifting, leading to a more fluid understanding of identity that transcends physical location.
Spiro examines the legal frameworks surrounding citizenship, including birthright citizenship, naturalization processes, and the acceptance of dual citizenship. These elements, once crucial in shaping a cohesive national identity, are now challenged by a global landscape that encourages diverse forms of belonging. The author posits that the traditional bonds of citizenship are weakening, resulting in a diminished significance of national membership and rights associated with it.
As loyalties evolve towards transnational communities defined by various factors such as race, ethnicity, and gender, Beyond Citizenship presents a thought-provoking analysis of the implications for governance and societal cohesion. Spiro's insights prompt readers to reconsider the future of democratic citizenship in an increasingly interconnected world, where the lines of identity and community are continuously redrawn.
This is a major contribution to the issue of political membership in our unsettled world. Its distinctiveness is a mix of precision and the shattering of traditional conceptual boundaries, which allows Spiro to open up new analytical terrain in a subject more often developed through the language of aspirations. * Saskia Sassen, author of Territory, Authority, Rights and Helen and Robert Lynd Professor of Sociology, Columbia University *
In this lucid, engaging, and highly accessible book, Peter Spiro traces the erosion of the legal foundations of American citizenship and shows why the foundations cannot be repaired. Spiro argues that it is no longer possible to sustain a distinctive American identity. This book poses an important challenge to anyone seeking to view American social and political life through the lens of citizenship. * Joseph H. Carens, author of Culture, Citizenship, and Community and Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto *
A lively and accessible investigation of how the law and practice of citizenship are being transformed by globalization. Professor Spiro fearlessly explores the ultimate consequences of current trends and arguments. His vision of a future multiplicity of partial citizenships raises serious challenges for democratic politics. Spiro's account is provocative throughout and provides rich food for thought. * Gerald Neuman, author of Strangers to the Constitution and J. Sinclair Armstrong Professor of International, Foreign, and Comparative Law, Harvard Law School *
In Beyond Citizenship, one of our best and most provocative scholars demonstrates with skill, erudition, and an engaging style accessible to all how globalization's tectonic forces are eroding the coherence of American citizenship, the supposed bedrock of our national identity. With this much-needed book, our debate on this vital subject will never be the same. * Peter H. Schuck, author of Citizenship Without Consent and Citizens, Strangers, and In-Betweens and Simeon E. Baldwin Professor, Yale Law School *
ISBN: 9780195152180
Dimensions: 165mm x 239mm x 17mm
Weight: 440g
208 pages