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Vienna – Symposium on Dual Citizenship – Political and Social Integration in an Era of Global Mobility

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This symposium, organised by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Commission for Migration and Integration Research) and the Department of Political Science at the University of Vienna, will investigate dual citizenship from an interdisciplinary perspective,considering constitutional, political and sociological views. Contributions will include theoretical discussions, case studies and the first results of surveys in South Tyrol and among expatriate Austrians. The symposium will conclude with a discussion of the Austrian situation by a panel of experts and policy makers, which might provide suggestions for political reform.

Background

Being in possession of state citizenship today is a prerequisite for enjoying the effective protection of most rights. But a growing number of people live and work in countries of which they do not hold citizenship and thus depend on rights granted to foreign residents. Countries and local communities hosting immigrants are often faced with the problem that the interests of considerable shares of their population are not counted politically if they cannot participate in elections.

A growing acceptance of dual citizenship can be observed globally. Among 175 nation states, 64% allow immigrants to retain their previous nationality when acquiring their host country citizenship. These countries thus provide for the fact that people’s identities have become more complex and that lasting feelings of belonging to two or more political communities are possible.

The collective granting of citizenship to nationally and ethnically related minority populations residing in neighbouring countries (such as the German language group in South Tyrol) poses yet another, albeit somewhat different, issue for nation states. Such citizenship grants are legally permitted in principle but may result in difficulties.

Demand for dual citizenship is strong among expatriate Austrians who currently automatically lose their Austrian citizenship when voluntarily acquiring citizenship of another country. This group, which is sometimes called the ‘tenth federal state of Austria’, numbers around 400,000 and have the right to vote in national elections. Their interests in dual citizenship have not yet been taken into account politically.

Registration

Programme
English
(430.68 KB - PDF)
Download

Practical information

Venue
Aula of the Campus, University of Vienna, Spitalgasse/Alser Straße, 1090 Wien, Austria
Where
Austria
When
to
Languages
English
Organiser
Austrian Academy of Sciences (Commission for Migration and Integration Research), University of Vienna
Posted by
Gerd Valchars
Country Coordinator

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