Wagner A. Redefining citizenship for the 21st century: from the National Welfare State to the UN Global CompactInt J Soc Welfare 2004: 13: 278 –286 © Blackwell Publishing,
2004.
This article analyses the impact of globalisation on the changing role of citizenship as a state-centred mechanism of societal integration. As more diverse forms of society emerged in the second half of the last century, national citizenship came under assault by identity-based social groups from within. They function as integrative mechanisms for those members of society who diverge from the majority position and are committed to replace the nation-state as the dominant
integrative device. From without, vast movements of peoples
across borders in search of jobs and refuge constitute an even
more serious challenge to the traditional notion of citizenship.
With reference to the current EU debates about immigration
and the idea of a UN Global Compact, the article explores
principles of societal integration that transcend the boundaries
of national citizenship and involve a governance paradigm
built on civil society and voluntary action.