Chapter 13: Reflecting on Worldview, Ideology, and Citizenship Key Terms: Citizen advocacy Citizenship Individual rights, roles, and responsibilities Political participation Naturalization Jus soli Jus sanguinis Pacifism Influences of Worldview and Ideology on Citizenship * From a legal perspective, citizenship is based on two key principles: jus soli (right of the soil) a person s citizenship or nationality is determined by place of birth jus sanguinis (right of blood) the citizenship and nationality of a child is the same as the natural parents, wherever the child is born * Most countries use a combination of jus soli and jus sanguinis as well as naturalization to determine who may (and may not) legally identify oneself as a citizen of the country.
* Some countries base citizenship on jus sanguinis to maintain national and cultural identity, and for historical reasons. * If you are born in Canada, you are most likely a Canadian citizen, regardless of your parent s nationality, because Canada applies the principle of jus soli. Children born outside Canada but to one Canadian citizen can be Canadian citizens also thus jus sanguinis also applies to some extent. Canada also allows for citizenship by naturalization. * The US applies the principle of jus soli; thus children born in the US are American citizens. However, the US has been concerned about the rising number of children of illegal immigrants attending public schools in the US. Broader Understandings of Citizenship * To some individuals, citizenship is a matter solely of where you are born, where your parents were born, your heritage, and your past. To others, it is a matter of where you live and work, your present loyalty, and where you see your future.
* Civic participation can be direct or indirect and there is a minimalist conception as well as an activist understanding of one s role as a citizen. * People can get involved in their communities directly by attending town hall meetings, protesting or demonstrating. Getting involved in these ways can be called citizen advocacy. The Rights, Roles, and Responsibilities of Citizens Some Rights and Freedoms: legal rights equality rights mobility rights Aboriginal people s rights freedom of thought freedom of speech freedom of religion the right to peaceful assembly Some Responsibilities: to obey Canada s laws to express opinions freely while respecting the rights and freedoms of others to help others in the community to care for and protect our heritage and environment to eliminate discrimination
Natural Disasters and World Responses * Sometimes individuals, organizations, and gov ts from around the world work together to respond to a global crisis. Such situations can be a challenge to individual and collective understandings of citizenship. * A crisis might not only expand the definition of citizen from, for example, Canadian citizen to world citizen or global citizen, but may also ask global citizens about their roles and responsibilities to their fellow human. The Call to War * Pacifism is practiced in a variety of ways. Pacifists include members of many diverse non-religious peace groups and of religious groups that have traditions of opposing war, such as Mennonites; Amish; Quakers; the Roman Catholic group Pax Christi; the Bahai faith; Hindus, and Buddists. * Some are pacifists in an absolute sense, rejecting violence of all sorts, while others are specifically anti-war or against a certain war but not all wars.
* In times of conflict, a gov t might call on citizens to participate in the war effort. Citizens opposed to the gov ts action may declare themselves pacifist and be prepared to accept the consequences, which could include going to jail. * The UN supports the right to conscientious objection to military service and monitors how conscientious objectors are treated. Some countries, such as Finland, Germany, and Israel, require military service but offer alternative service options.