Citizenship: concept of the social science

The struggle of the disadvantaged for rights as well as improved conditions, and especially the rights of citizenship, is a prominent thread running through the history of the West. In this book Dr Barbalet shows that modern citizenship has developed not only as a consequence of popular pressure, but also in response to the ruling-class's requirements for security, a factor ignored by recent theorists of citizenship. Today, citizenship is generally taken to include a universal right to a level of economic and social well-being in addition to the rights of equality before the law and political participaton.

Modern citizenship, comprising at least universal civil, political and social rights, is not only complex but fraught with internal tensions, as the distinct rights which constitute it tend to generate different and sometimes contradictory pressures. This book explain why an understanding of citizenship rights is important for social and political analysis, and goes on to treat both the relationship between the distinct elements of citizenship and its effects on class inequality, on social and political integration, and on the structure and operation of the state.

Current approaches to modern citizenship began with the publication by T.H. Marshall of Citizenship and Social Class in 1950. As well as dealing directly with the historical devel opment of modern citizenship and its social and political consequences, Barbalet offers a distinctive interpretation and critique of T.H. Marshall's theory, and makes a valuable contribution to the debate generated by Marshall.