Yossi HarpazCitizenship 2.0: Dual Nationality as a Global Asset

 

Dr Yossi Harpaz will present his recent research as part of our Research Seminar Series.

The talk will present the book “Citizenship 2.0: Dual Nationality as a Global Asset,” that recently came out with Princeton University Press. The book focuses on an important yet overlooked dimension of globalization: the steady rise in the legitimacy and prevalence of dual citizenship. There is clear evidence of booming global demand for a second, premium citizenship from EU countries or the U.S. In most cases, the acquisition of a second citizenship does not lead to emigration. I therefore refer to this phenomenon as “compensatory citizenship”. Such citizenship is typically used in an instrumental manner, as an insurance policy, opportunity enhancer, backup passport, or even status symbol. The book compares three study cases: EU dual citizenship in Israel, Hungarian (EU) dual citizenship in Serbia, and American dual citizenship in Mexico. Drawing on statistics and interview data, I analyze the dynamics of compensatory citizenship and its interaction with economic inequality and national identity in each case. I find that individuals worldwide are becoming increasingly strategic in their relation to citizenship, perceiving it as a ranked position in a global hierarchy rather than a sacred and unique national identity