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Immigration raises a number of important moral issues regarding access to the rights and privileges of citizenship. At present, immigrants to most Western democracies must satisfy a range of conditions before achieving citizenship. This book argues that this is unjust and undemocratic, and that there should be a time threshold after which immigrants should either be granted full citizenship rights, or should be awarded nationality automatically, without any conditions. The author contrasts her position with the constitutional practice of two countries with rich immigration traditions: Germany and the United States.
List of contents
1. Introduction; 2. A democratic challenge; 3. Fair to whom?; 4. Safeguarding liberal democracy from itself; 5. Inclusion without consent; 6. Keeping nationality relevant; 7. The constitutional debate in the United States; 8. The constitutional debate in Germany; 9. Summary and final remarks.
Summary
Immigration raises a number of important moral issues regarding access to the rights and privileges of citizenship. Examining the constitutional practice of Germany and the United States, this book argues that immigration policy in most Western democracies is unjust and undemocratic, and that policy should be far more inclusive.
