By Ada Adoley Allotey, PhD

Though the concept of citizenship is not new, it has gained significance in many people’s lives in recent years because it provides assurance or denial of rights, economic benefits and social services, education, due process of law, and opportunities to affect political decisions. Additionally, the concept of citizenship has received widespread attention due to the increasing growth in international mobility, particularly in migration and tourism. In other words, studies on citizenship in the migration and tourism contexts have focused on the modes of acquisition of citizenship. The concept of citizenship is predicated on certain principles, such as the fact that citizens should possess a range of civil, political and social rights, and these rights should be counterbalanced by obligations like obeying laws, paying taxes and defending the country in times of conflict. Moreover, a country is supposed to include citizens who reside on its territory, and each citizen is expected to belong to only one country. However, these principles are quite different from reality as citizenship changes over space and time. The presentation explores some viewpoints on the concept of citizenship and its connection with international mobility.