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Should Dual or
Multiple
Citizenship BePossible or
Not?A REVIEW OF CITIZENSHIP LITERATURE
Lawrence Okechukwu Emeagwali
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Multiple Citizenship 1
Should Dual or Multiple Citizenship be Possible or not?
Introduction
For the past few years, the number of individuals holding dual or multiple nationalities
have been on the increase, and the legislatures of more and more nations are increasingly
tolerating or supporting this phenomenon. In their 2008 work titled Dual Citizenship in an age
of Mobility, Faist and Gerdes, state that this trend is surprising due to the fact that not too long
ago within the 19th and 20th centuries, nations had unanimously opposed the notion of dual or
multiple citizenship on the basis of several well founded fears. The reasons for the sudden
change of heart is not clear at the moment, but the question this research piece intends to find
answers to by means of this presentation is, if persons should or should not be allowed to hold
dual or multiple citizenship of at any one time in their lives. The following sections intend to
find answers to the questions by systematically looking at the concept of citizenship, dual
citizenship, the international perspective on both as well as the perceived benefits and
problems of dual or multiple citizenship and from these and backed by literature provide
answers to the research question.
The Concept of Citizenship
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While the terms nationality and citizenship are often used interchangeably, they actually
differ in meaning. To better understand the concept of citizenship and thus dual or multiple
citizenship, it is very important to contrast nationality against citizenship.
According to Renshon, citizenship is a term used to refer to the rights and
responsibilities people acquire, due to their having been born as or having become accepted,
recognized or certified as members of a community or state (7). He went further to define
nationality as a psychological terminology which refers to that intrinsic emotional connection,
tie and central understandings about the community, the world and the common experiences
which effectively bonds members of a group or community together (Renshon, 7).
Elsewhere, Faiststated that the function of nationality is two foldviz: interstate function
and intrastate function. The interstate function of nationality is to provide a clear definition of a
group or community of people based on a clearly delineated territory in order to distinguish
and also protect its citizens against outside and sometimes unfriendly communities or nations;
while the intrastate function also known as the domestic function of nationality is to define the
rights and duties of members of the community (Faist, 7,8).
On citizenship, Faist noted that it is a concept used to confer the legal status of equal
individual liberty among members of the community or nation with the recipient
demonstrating some affinity to a political community with a well differentiated collective
identity to ensure that the trust and solidarity which are entitlements of members of a
community are propagated (Faist, 8).
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Multiple Citizenship 3
To buttress Faists point in the preceding paragraphs, Renshon who earlier on defined
nationality as the emotional ties between members or citizens of a community or state; noted
in his writing that nationality in most cases is the foundation of citizenship, and in his own
words citizenship without emotional attachment, is the civic equivalent of a one-night stand
(Renshon, 7).
Dual Citizenship and why it occurs
According to Ludvig, every person who legally holds two or more nationalities, has dual
or multiple citizenship respectively (3). Also according to Faist and Gerdes, dual citizenship
refers to the situation whereby individuals hold and combine citizenship in and of two nations
(4). Ludvig went further to state that dual citizenship can be obtained through any of the
following six means: descent from one or both parents who are nationals (the principle of jus
sanguinis ); birth on the sovereign nations territory (the principle of jus soli); marriage,
adoption or legitimization; naturalization or territorial transfer from one nation to another (5).
To buttress the preceding point from an American perspective, Renshon illustrated that
an American can acquire dual or multiple citizenship in any of the following ways: If he/she is
born to immigrant parents resident in the USA at the time of his/her birth; since all children
born in the USA, automatically become US citizens irrespective of their parents immigration
status at the time (jus soli). Secondly, if he/she is born outside the USA to one parent who is an
America citizen and another who is not (jus sanguinis), third, if he/she is resident and chooses
to naturalize in the USA; fourth, if he/she comes from a country which originally has dual
citizenship with third or fourth countries and which automatically makes him/her eligible for
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Multiple Citizenship 4
dual citizenship in the USA. Fifth, being born to parents who each have dual citizenship, can
confer on him/her the citizenship entitlement to both his parents nationalities of origin and
his/her American one as well granting him multiple citizenship status (Renshon, 6).
International Perception of Dual or Multiple Citizenship
Faist and Gerdes noted in their work that there was an international consensus among
nations some decades ago in which nations unanimously agreed that dual citizenship should be
avoided at any possible cost. They stated that this decision was evidenced by the citizenship
laws of individual states as well as in bilateral and multilateral agreements and international
conventions at the time (5).
They quoted as an example, a very brief statement which was the preamble to the
Hague convention on citizenship attributed to the League of Nations in 1930 stating that All
persons are entitled to possess one nationality, but one nationality only. This statement the
authors claim, was a mirror reflection of the dominant international opinion and perspective on
citizenship all through the 19th and 20th century (Faist and Gerdes, 5). Elsewhere, Faist
buttressed this observation when he noted that bilateral treaties such as the treaties between
the USA and European countries around the middle of the 19th
century called the Bancroft
Treaties as well as interstate conventions such as the Hague Convention of 1930 and the
European Convention on the Reduction of Multiple Nationality (Council of Europe, 1963); all
lend credence to the dominant perspective at that time (Faist, 10).
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Multiple Citizenship 6
dual citizenship always occurred as individuals were born in nations where jus soli was the
predominant law, while his/her parents had nationalities from countries where jus sanguinis
was predominant (Faist, 10). Other factors such as gender equality law reforms which
eliminated the clause which previously made a females citizenship dependent on that of her
husband. The European Convention on Nationality (Council of Europe, 97) made it even easier,
by stipulating that both parents can transfer their nationality to their children. Also recently,
more countries have made the acquisition of their nations citizenship and nationality status
less dependent on the relinguishing or giving up of the applicants original citizen status from
his/her originating country. Examples of nations which have done away with these restricitions
include France (1973), Portugal, (1981) and Italy (1992) among others (Faist,11).
Another contributing factor to the recent rise in dual and multiple citizenship
occurrences, have been attributed to the new relationship structure among nations (Faist, 7)
from an European perspective, the intra cooperation among nation states meant that the
threats of war and thus the need to protect and maintain a high conscriptable citizenry is no
longer necessary. Thus a lot of European countries have done away with the provisions of
compulsory military services. Where still present, the individual is allowed to perform military
service in his/her state of regular residence (Faist, 7). The end of the cold war, the decreasing
interstate wars between democracies, enhanced economic and political cooperation between
democratic nation states and the creation of the European union all have served to make more
and more nations less worried about the loyalty of their citizens, thus making it easier to
legislate in favor of dual or multiple citizenship (Faist, 8).
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To effectively arrive at a conclusion concerning whether it should or should not be
possible for a person to hold citizenship in more than one country at any one time; it is only
important to first of all take a comprehensive and objective look at the benefits and problems
of dual citizenship.
Benefits of Dual Citizenship
According to Faist and Gerdes, some benefits of dual citizenship includes high incidences
and frequencies of naturalization, the encouragement and improvement of participation among
the diverse populace, and the improvement of trans-national participation and thus tran-
national relations. These benefits are explained in details in the ensuing section.
Increased Naturalization Rates
The authors note that in many countries, not all immigrants who qualify for citizenship
acquisition actually make any effort to apply for it. They attribute this to a lot of factors, most
notably, the requirement of most nations that applicants provide proof of having renounced
their previous citizenship in their countries of origin (8). The authors cited the case of Turkish
immigrants in Netherland as contrasted against Turkish immigrants in Germany, between 1992
and 1997. In the former, this period was the period when dual citizenship was accepted without
any pre-conditions or exceptions and consequently saw a very sharp increase in the
naturalization rate of Turkish immigrants. On the other hand, due to the fact that Germany did
not accept dual citizenship; the naturalization rate of Turkish immigrants during the same
period was much more lower (Faist and Gerdes, 9).
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The authors found a similar comparison between the naturalization rates of immigrants
in the USA against immigrants in Canada. Where in the later, immigrants are more likely to
become naturalized than those in the USA due mainly to the fact that while Canada tolerates
and even promotes the need for dual citizenship; the USAs naturalization process and legal
requirements, sends a message which implies that it does not tolerate dual citizenship even
though it is on record that the USA does not practically take action against individuals holding
other citizenship (Faist and Gerdes, 9) (Renshon, 10).
Encourages and Advances Overall Participation
Faist and gerde note that dual citizenship confers on immigrants exemptions from
applications for work permits, protects the immigrant from expulsion from the host country,
enables him/her to gain easy access to public employment, reduces bureaucratic and
administrative difficulties and from an EU perspective, also allows the free movement of the
individual around European member states without a visa (9). Although the above depends on
the applicable legal framework in the immigrant nation, these benefits attached to citizenship
will according toFaist and Gerdes enhance the probability of socioeconomic integration (9).
Enhances Esteem and Self-Respect
When immigrants are granted dual citizenship, they often regard the states acceptance
of dual citizenship as a form of recognition, respect for an legitimization of their multicultural
heritage and identities. The authors note that children who are dual citizenship holders easily
integrate if the stae welcomes or accepts dual citizenship. The authors cite the example in
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Germny, according to Schroter and Jager; where children of bi-national marriages who are dual
citizens from birth see their dual citizenship as important for their integration obviously due to
ability to develop specific capabilities and competencies related to their transnational
backgrounds such as bilingual skills as well as inter cultural mediation (Faisy and Gerdes, 10).
Enhances Trans-national Participation
Some immigrants are active globally. They engage in global transnational activities in
this age of ever increasing trans-national mobility of people, information, money, consumer
goods and services. Due to the high immigrant populations in most immigrant nations, it is now
possible for transnational connections through several networks, groups, and organizations.
Indeed dual citizenship benefits the immigrant entrepreneur who has to mobilize and interact
with contacts across borders (Faist and Gerdes, 10).
Problems of Dual Citizenship
Although dual citizenship has a lot of benefits to both the immigrant and the state,
many nations still base their opposition to the concept of dual or multiple citizenship based on
the following perceived disadvantages they found associated with dual or multiple citizenship:
dual voting implications, lack of proper integration and state loyalty and more importantly, they
believe that dual citizenship devalues national citizenship (Faist and Gerdes, 12)
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Dual Voting
One disadvantage opponents of dual citizenship always cite is the violation of the one
person, one vote principle. They claim that immigrants with dual citizenship, had the unfair
advantage of propagating their interests especially in the EU by casting their votes twice: one in
their originating country and the other in their country of residence (Faist and Gerdes, 12).
Whether this is truly the case would be dealt with in the sections to follow.
Lack of Integration
Faist and Gerdes reveal that patterns of failed integration due to low employment rates,
low educational levels, and high dependence on welfare by most immigrants is a very important
disadvantage often cited by opponents of dual citizenship. The authors also cite the rising
apprehension over Islamic extremism, which has given rise to high incidences of inhumane
practices such as forced, arranged marriages and honor killings (12). Post September 11 th and
other terrorist activities in select European countries have further strengthened the opposition
to dual citizenship in some quarters (Faist and Gerdes, 12).
Lack of Loyalty
Faist and Gerdes notes that there may exist certain individuals with immigrant status
who have been living as permanent residents in a foreign nation for many years, without ever
wanting to acquire the citizenship of that country. Others may want to acquire citizenship for
certain benefits but would not wish to renounce the citizenship of his/her originating country.
Since citizenship requires the holder to identify with common political values, to show a sense
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Multiple Citizenship 11
of responsibility and solidarity towards the common good, and towards fellow citizens
respectively. Within a particular country or nation-state, the dominant groups (usually natives)
of immigration countries cannot help but consider people who retain their previous citizenship
upon acquiring the host countrys citizenship as not being completely and honestly loyal to their
country of settlement (Faist and Gerdes 13)
The Devaluation of National Citizenship
One other disadvantage perceived by opponents of dual citizenship is the fear of the
erosion in value of national citizenship as a consequence of dual or multiple citizenship. To curb
this, most states have followed in the footsteps of the USA and Canada in the introduction of
naturalization tests and etc to ensure that core values of national citizenship exists in soon to
be citizens.
Faist and Gerde note that this fear is highly present among European nations who fear
that as the region shifts towards one of expanded European citizenship, the devaluation of
national citizenship sets in; as member states lower the requirements for acquiring citizenship,
open their arms to dual citizenship and institutionalize territorial birthright citizenship. The fear
is greater even as opponents view this developments a more or less inevitable (Faist and
Gerdes, 13)
Dual Citizens as Liability to the State
There exist a school of thought which believe that dual citizens especially those in the Diaspora,
constitute an unfair liability to the state as they in some particular countries such as Canada, do
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not reside at home, do not pay taxes or participate in the political process, and as such have
very little bond with Canada save the conveniences their Canadian citizenships afford them. A
practical example is the dual citizenship crisis in 2006 where it is recorded that the Canadian
government spent an enormous $100 million to evacuate its dual citizens from Lebanon, during
the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. While critics agree that these citizens should be evacuated, they
argue that these non tax-paying, non-voting citizens did not deserve the amount of tax payers
fund spent on their evacuation. The question then is: is it fair for a government to help its dual
citizens resident abroad when they are in trouble? In November 2006, the former immigration
minister Monte Solberg was quoted as saying in response to the evacuation crisis that "If we're
in a situation where somebody's absent, isn't paying taxes but is going to be using our social
programs down the road, I think Canadians would feel that that is unfair,". His statement
reflected the feelings of many Canadians on the issue of dual citizenship.
In the light of the preceding advantages and disadvantages discussed above; should it
then be possible or not for a person to hold citizenship in more than one country at the same
time? The following sections would seek to provide answers.
Should Dual or Multiple Citizenship be Possible or not?
In order to find answers to this question, it is necessary to re-consider the fears
expressed in the disadvantages or problems of dual citizenship stated earlier on, as in there lies
the major factors opposing dual or multiple citizenship. First of all, taking the fear of dual
voting into consideration, we are reminded that opponents of dual or multiple citizenship claim
that it enables holders to propagate or have the undue advantage of being able to vote for their
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interests using two votes which dual citizenship legally grants them. Faist and gerdes notes that
people with more money and other resources and holding only one citizenship in some
countries, sometimes have and exert large influences on national elections more than other
citizens do. Although this is may not be obtainable in federal political systems, it is infact true
for others. Also the authors note that the benefit of having more residents participating
politically in a country where they reside far outweighs the disadvantage of dual voting if ever
that occurs as Faist and Gerdes reveal was the case in Switzerland where the one person, one
vote principle was seen to be violated with dual citizenship and that violation later ignored
due to the realizat ion of the above mentioned fact. (Faist and Gerdes, 12).
Secondly the disadvantage of lack of integration associated with dual or multiple
citizenships cannot be empirically substantiated. There are no proof or strong empirical
arguments which gives evidence that dual or multiple citizenship leads to or contributes
yochain reactions of non integration, exclusion and segregation among immigrant groups.
However, there are strong empirical findings and evidence to support the idea that dual or
multiple citizenship may lead to increase in political participation and socio-economic
opportunities.
Thirdly, Faist reveals that if we look closely at the disadvantage of lack of loyalty
associated with dual or multiple citizenship, we would find that sometimes it is only natural for
new citizens to want to maintain some ties to their countries of origin, as well as develop new
and strong emotional ties to their new country of residence. Instead of viewing the refusal to
renounce citizenship of the originating country as a negative thing, it could be seen as an
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advantage to be used in fostering closer ties and better relationships with the migrant or
immigrant originating country. The authors note that the fact remains that empirical findings
show evidence that dual or multiple citizenships are becoming inevitable. This implies that
countries should welcome this phenomenon.
Fourthly, regarding the issue of dual citizens in the Diaspora being a liability to the state, a re-
known Canadian researcher Jack Jedwab, director of the Montreal-based Association for
Canadian Studies, revealed that data obtained from an important landmark 2001 StatsCan
survey disagrees with the general perception that dual citizens have more divided loyalties or a
weak commitment to Canada. Jedwab revealed that the statistics indicated that foreign based
dual citizens were as committed to Canada in terms of loyalty as home based dual or single
citizens. In their research work titled Dual Citizenship and Canadas New Diaspora DeVoretz
and Woo noted that the perceived problem of liability lies with the inadequacies of the dual
citizenship policies of the Canadian government and not the dual citizens themselves. They
reveal that these policies which as of then had not granted dual citizens in Diaspora the means
to exercise their electoral franchise as well as the absence of such US based system of
worldwide world income tax remitting systems. They noted that the availability of these
systems would reveal that Canadians with dual citizenship statuses resident abroad are not a
liability but just as committed as their domestic counterparts in both their loyalty to Canada as
well as their socio-economic contribution to the Canadian nation state.
In my opinion, based on the work of Faist and Gerdes, it should be possible for
individuals to hold dual or multiple citizenships at the same time as long as they have
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demonstrated ties to each of the countries in question; as depriving them of citizenship status
in any of the countries in which they have a tie either by birth, relation, marriage, or residence
would be unfair and unjust.
According to Faist and Gerdes, the arguments often made against dual or multiple
citizenships are weak because the fear of dual voting is often misinformed if at all migrants ever
consider voting in the different countries in which they hold citizenship. Also the rise in dual
citizenship has not led to any proven or noticeable increase in tensions and conflicts; and most
importantly the problems of conflicting laws, rights, tax duties, family, military service,
inheritance and even the ability to vote, can be resolved by enacting legislation similar to the
European unions law of state of habitual residence which states that citizens are allowed to
vote or carry out military service in their state of habitual residence. Other bilateral or
multilateral treaties can also be enacted between nations to resolve these issues which are
obviously resolvable. Finally, Faist and Gerdesnotes that when it comes to issues of loyalty of
dual citizens, it is far better to have them as citizens rather than non-citizens.
In conclusion, I believe that individuals should be allowed to hold multiple citizenship,
thus policy makers would do well to not only tolerate it, but also to support it because dual or
multiple citizenship leads to higher rates of naturalization, thus stimulating social and political
integration. It enhances democratic legitimacy and more importantly, dual or multiple
citizenship encourages integration and is cost effective, efficient and natural to recognize dual
or multiple citizenship as it reflects the multiple heritage of a whole community of people living
across borders.
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References
Faist, Thomas. Dual Citizenship as Overlapping Membership International Migrations and
Ethnic Relations, 2001. Print.
Faist, Thomas; Gerdes, Jurgen.Dual Citizenship in an age of Mobility Council on Migration. The
Migration Policy Institute, 2008. Print.
Faist, Thomas; Gerdes, Jurgen; Rieple, Beate.Dual Citizenship as a Path Dependent Process
Working papers, Center on Migration, Citizenship and Development, 2004. Print.
Ginieniewicz, Jorge. Citizenship Learning and Political Participation The Case of Latin
American-Canadians. London Review of Education, 2008. Print.
Ludvig, Alice. Dealing with Dual Citizenship in Austria and Germany A Comparison. European
Consortium on Political Research, 2000. Print.
Renshon, Stanley. Reforming Dual Citizenship in the United States Integrating Immigrants into
the American National community. Center for Immigration Studies, 2005. Print.
Renshon, Stanley. Dual Citizenship and American National Identity. Centre for Immigration
studies, 2001. Print.
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