Citizenship
This document, published by the Institute for State Effectiveness (ISE) in March 2007, serves as a strategic framework for redefining the relationship between the state and its people. It argues that citizenship is not merely a legal status but the primary mechanism for building a stable, accountable, and sovereign state.
Core Objectives
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The State-Citizen Compact: Redefining citizenship as a "two-way street" where the state provides security, law, and services, and in return, citizens provide legitimacy, taxes, and participation.
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Defining the Rights and Obligations: Moving beyond abstract rights to practical obligations. It emphasizes that a functional state must guarantee the safety and economic agency of its citizens to earn their loyalty.
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Inclusive Identity: Proposing a framework for inclusive citizenship that transcends ethnic, tribal, or sectarian divides, establishing a national identity rooted in shared legal rights and responsibilities.
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Citizenship as an Economic Asset: Viewing the citizen as the primary driver of the economy. By investing in human capital (health and education), the state transforms its population from a "burden" into its greatest resource.