We explain what citizenship is, how it manifests itself, and what a good citizen looks like. We also tell you what digital citizenship is. Please read other MTV articles for more information. If you share it, it will be of little help to us.
What is citizenship?
Citizenship is the legal, social, and cultural belonging of an individual to an organized community, such as a country or a city. It is the legal and political bond that a person has with a state, which grants them certain rights and duties within its territory.
Being a citizen means being part of a nation and being subject to its rules and regulations. In return, you obtain essential rights such as the right to vote, protection by the state, and access to various public services. Furthermore, citizenship entails obligations, such as complying with the laws and contributing through the payment of taxes.
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Throughout history, the requirements for citizenship have varied greatly from one nation to another and from one era to another. Today, the notion of citizenship is closely linked to that of nationality, that is, to the legal and formal relationship of belonging to one country or another.
Importance of Citizenship
Citizenship is a fundamental concept for life in society, as it is linked to the exercise of rights and the responsibility for duties. Citizens of a nation enjoy the protection of the law and are simultaneously subject to it.
Through citizenship, individuals have access to fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, legal protection, and political participation, especially through the right to vote.
On the other hand, citizenship is much more than a legal bond: it is a way of belonging to an organized group. It is a tool for social and political integration, as it allows people to become involved in decision-making that affects their community and the country as a whole.
At the same time, citizenship is a key element of a nation’s stability and well-being, as fulfilling civic responsibilities, such as respecting the laws and paying taxes, contributes to economic and social development.
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Examples of Citizenship
Some ways to exercise citizenship are:
- Participating in national or regional elections to elect political authorities, participating in referendums, and taking part in the country’s decision-making process.
- Identifying oneself with national documents that certify one’s citizenship when traveling abroad.
- Complying with tax laws, that is, paying taxes to finance the state and help those most in need.
- Attending assemblies and town councils to learn about community debates.
Active and Passive Citizenship
The distinction between active and passive citizenship relates to the degree of commitment that an individual, group, or organization assumes toward the community and the resolution of the needs of collective well-being.
Thus, active citizenship refers to enthusiastic, responsible, and proactive participation in matters that concern the common good; while passive citizenship is one that is content to exercise its individual rights and is as little involved as possible in the running of society.
For example, a company may perfectly comply with the minimum requirements, pay its taxes, and ignore the rest of the needs of the community of which it is a part and through which it makes money. This is a case of passive citizenship.
On the other hand, another company may recognize its human and natural environment and therefore invest dividends and effort not only in enriching shareholders but also in improving the life of the community and being responsible for its needs. In this case, it is promoting active, involved, and responsible citizenship.
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Digital Citizenship
Digital citizenship is a sociological concept that emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, thanks to new information and telecommunications technologies (ICTs), such as the internet.
Digital citizenship, also called Citizenship 2.0, consists of the use of these new technologies to make public information available to people, facilitate their bureaucratic and legal procedures, and enable the exercise of their rights and duties through digital platforms.
The concept of digital citizenship also implies access to and the ability to use digital tools to participate in civic and social activities, such as participating in online debates, organizing social movements, or accessing public information and services through the internet.
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Characteristics of a Good Citizen
The characteristics of a good citizen vary depending on the culture, but some of them include:
- Respect for the law. Fulfill obligations proactively, attentively, and on time, not just respecting basic prohibitions (no stealing, no killing, among others).
- Be respectful of the environment. Ensure that our activities have the smallest possible environmental footprint.
- Cultivate civic values. Comply with the minimum essential requirements to guarantee a good quality of life for oneself and others. Some of these values are respect, tolerance, equality before the law, and consideration for those who suffer.
- Actively participate in citizen consultations. Take an active, involved, and informed role in collective affairs, such as voting in elections, participating in referendums, attending assemblies, or simply staying informed about important social debates.
- Demand that authorities perform their fair work. Report irregularities, protest, and ensure that authorities do their job. Also, organize collectively to demand the needs of the population.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
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References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Ritzer, G. & Ryan, J. M. Citizenship. The Concise Encyclopedia of Sociology. Wiley-Blackwell.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Citizenship. Encyclopedia Britannica. britannica.com
- Turner, B. (2006). Citizenship. The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology. Cambridge University Press.
- Citizenship – What it is: active, passive, digital (and examples) – concepto.de
