Strategic citizenship: negotiating membership in the age of dual nationality

This introductory article defines the concept of strategic citizenship which stands at the focus of the special issue. This concept refers to the rise of a strategic-instrumental approach towards access to national citizenship, which is reflected in new acquisition strategies, practical uses and understandings. The article provides a historical account of the growing acceptance of dual citizenship, which has been crucial to this shift in the meaning of citizenship. We highlight the need to explore the consequences of strategic citizenship as they manifest in the everyday lives of individuals. We present three arguments that are derived from the articles in this special issue: a) a growing number of persons in non-Western countries are strategically acquiring a second citizenship for strategic reasons; b) this trend is associated with the rise of instrumental attitudes towards nationality; c) much of the value of citizenship has to do with rights to global mobility. Finally, this introduction summarizes the contributions of the nine articles in the special issue.