Book Review: Nationality, Citizenship and Ethno-Cultural Belonging: Preferential Membership Policies in Europe
| DOI | 10.1177/1478929915609472d |
| Published date | 01 February 2016 |
| Date | 01 February 2016 |
| Subject Matter | Book ReviewsEurope |
Political Studies Review 14 (1)
Also, among all the information, Birstein
detailed information, this work is, undoubt-
does not cover the People’s Commissariat for
edly, a valuable addition to the research on
Internal Affairs (NVKD)/UOO/SMERSH European citizenship laws. However, there are
activities regarding the Anglo-Soviet invasion
a few shortcomings worth mentioning, albeit not
of Iran during August–September 1941 and the
detrimental to the value of Dumbrava’s study.
ensuing joint occupation, which was married to
First, the study is primarily state-centric
a major Soviet intelligence operation during
and omits extensive examination of various
(and after) the war. Overall, however, despite
regulations and rules on the sub-national levels,
these flaws, Birstein’s account of SMERSH is
which may or may not act in accordance with
a highly informative work, well-researched
rules and regulations set on the national level.
and a useful read for anyone seeking a survey
While Dumbrava acknowledges that he has
of the Soviet military counter-intelligence
‘little to say about sub-state forms of member-
machinery during the war.
ship or local membership regimes’ (p. 163), a
multi-level approach would have strengthened
Egemen B. Bezci
his analysis. Second, the study incorporates a
(University of Nottingham)
very diverse set of countries, and a justification
for the country selection would have been
welcomed. The diversity within the selected
Nationality, Citizenship and
dataset raises methodological and analytical
Ethno-Cultural Belonging: Preferential
concerns as the countries differ not only from
Membership Policies in Europe by Costica
each other politically, economically and demo-
Dumbrava. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan,
graphically, but with regard to their member-
2014. 196pp., £58.00 (h/b),
ship in the European Union as well as exposure
ISBN 9781137382078
to the Union’s political pressures. Finally,
Dumbrava’s...
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