Citizenship: participation and exclusion in early modern Europe
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201111127786 |
| Published date | 10 May 2011 |
| Pages | 121-129 |
| Date | 10 May 2011 |
| Author | Geltrude Macrì |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance |
Citizenship: participation and
exclusion in early modern Europe
Geltrude Macrı
`
Faculty of Literature and Philosophy, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this article is to discuss the most recent results of the historiographical
works on the subject “how to become a citizen” within the European continent in the early modern
period (sixteenth-nineteenth centuries).
Design/methodology/approach – The idea that citizenship status could not mark the difference
between natives and immigrants on a geographical basis, as natives were entitled to it at various
stages as well, stands out from the presentation of some case studies (the Republic of Venice, the Papal
State, the Reign of Naples, France, Spain and Britain).
Findings – In many contexts, citizenship was rather the political recognition of social and economic
integration of somebody that already acted as a citizen within the new setting.
Originality/value – The comparative perspective can lead us to some reflections, when we notice
that participation in the life of the local community was often the main requirement for applying for its
citizenship, at least until the spread of nation states in the nineteenth century.
Keywords Citizenship,Modern history, Europe
Paper type Literature review
1. Introduction
In this article, I would like to discuss the most recent results of historiographical works
on the question of “how to become a citizen” in Europe during the early modern period
(that is to say between sixteenth and nineteenth centuries). Studying the mechanisms of
the achievement of citizenship could indeed help us to understand some aspects of the
policies about participation or exclusion of foreigners, and of the possibility for resident
foreigners to access the legal labour market.
Through the presentation of the specific situation in some of the ancient Italian
States – the Republic of Venice, the Papal State, the Kingdom of Naples (and in some of
the main European countries – Spain, France, England – I want to stress the idea that
citizenship in early modern Europe did not distinguish between natives and immigrants
on a geographical basis.
Different steps for the achievement of the status of citizen were provided for natives
as well, and not all resident foreigners of a new community were interested in becoming a
citizen. Sometimes, they preferred to be identified as members of their own nations
(that is to say politically recognized established groups) for as long as possible, because
due to this membership, they could enjoy peculiar advantages[1]. In many cases,
citizenship was more of a political recognition of the social and economic integration of
somebody who had already lived and acted in the host community (Feci, 2003, p. 13)[2].
Foreigners had to clearly show their will to tie themselves to the host community by
having an occupation, owning properties, paying taxes or marrying a local person.
Specific laws and practices for the regulation of the entry, identification, residenc e
and possible issue of the citizenship status to foreigners have existed since the middle
ages. Participation in the life of the local community was often the main requirement
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Citizenship
121
Journal of Money Laundering Control
Vol. 14 No. 2, 2011
pp. 121-129
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/13685201111127786
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