Dalton Ch 2: Meaning & Measurement of Citizenship

What is the open definition of citizenship?

A shared set of expectations about the role citizens should play in politics. People can disagree about what those expectations should be.

What are the two broad “faces” of citizenship?

Citizen duty and engaged citizenship.

What is citizen duty?

A more traditional, social-order-based view of citizenship emphasizing obeying laws, paying taxes, voting, and fulfilling civic responsibilities.

What is engaged citizenship?

A broader view emphasizing active participation outside elections, such as protesting, participating in civic groups, making political/ethical consumer choices, and helping others.

What is the key difference between citizen duty and engaged citizenship?

Citizen duty emphasizes following established civic responsibilities and social order, while engaged citizenship emphasizes active participation and challenging government or social norms when necessary.

What are the four major dimensions used to understand “good citizenship” in the research?

Participation, autonomy, social order, and solidarity.

What does participation mean as a citizenship norm?

aking part in political and social life, especially activities such as voting and involvement in political/social associations.

What does autonomy mean as a citizenship norm?

Thinking independently, understanding why people and governments act as they do, paying attention to government, and respecting differing political opinions.

What does social order mean as a citizenship norm?

Accepting state authority and following established rules, including obeying laws and paying taxes.

What does solidarity/social citizenship mean?

Helping other people and contributing to the well-being of others, including through volunteering and helping people who are worse off.

What did Aristotle identify as the two roles of citizenship?

Citizens participate in ruling and being ruled in turn. Citizenship therefore involves both exercising political authority and accepting political authority.

Why is public participation important in Aristotle's conception of citizenship?

Participation in civic life is central to what it means to be a citizen; citizenship isn't merely having legal status but sharing in political life.

How has the meaning of citizenship changed across generations?

Traditional civic duties remain important, but younger generations increasingly emphasize engaged, self-expressive forms of participation such as protesting, civic activism, and values-based political action.

What did the GSS and Pew research broadly show about citizenship norms?

Both found support for traditional civic responsibilities and newer forms of engagement, although they emphasized particular norms differently.

What is the major takeaway from the research on citizenship norms?

Citizenship norms change over time, but change does not necessarily mean traditional norms disappear. Traditional duties and newer forms of engagement can coexist.

What are the two competing ways of thinking about citizenship discussed in the chapter?

A civic-duty-based/traditional conception, which emphasizes maintaining social order and fulfilling established responsibilities, and an engaged conception, which emphasizes active participation and challenging existing political or social conditions.

Why can different theories of citizenship disagree about what a “good citizen” is?

Different democratic and political traditions have different ideas about the proper relationship between citizens, political participation, and state authority.