EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Decentralised citizenship politics: Between national justice and municipal particularities

Decentralised citizenship politics: Between national justice and municipal particularities

Introduction

By using policy briefs, the Network of Excellence IMISCOE (International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion) aims to bring research to the attention of policy makers and at the same time translate the results into meaningful and useful messages to them.

Description

Switzerland constitutes the most extreme case when it comes to local-level variations in citizenship policies. In this country, every municipality is attributed its own right to decide the criteria for naturalising foreigners. As a result, we observe a large range of different naturalisation policies. This policy brief discusses the mechanisms that influence local naturalisation policies, as well as advantages and problems that come with a decentralised system.

Background information

Based on the IMISCOE-Amsterdam University Press publication Practising Citizenship and Heterogeneous Nationhood. Naturalisations in Swiss Municipalities (2008), this policy brief draws on data collected through research on Swiss local naturalisation politics. This innovative research project compiled data from a survey conducted in 200 Swiss municipalities and information from fourteen detailed case studies.

EU involvement

IMISCOE is an EU funded Network of Excellence in the Sixth Framework Programme. NATAC was funded by the Commission’s sixth framework programme and co-funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture.

Contact info

IMISCOE Network of Excellence
Amsterdam
http://www.imiscoe.org
Karen Kraal (Communication Officer), tel. + 31 (0)20 525 3659

Publication date

//2008

Project finished

//2008

Researcher

Marc Helbling

Click here to download the policy brief "Decentralised citizenship politics: Between national justice and municipal particularities" (PDF, Eng, 155 kB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizenship