Traditionally, citizenship has been defined as the legal and political link between individuals and their democratic political community. However, traditional conceptions of democratic citizenship are currently challenged by various developments like migration, the rise of populism, increasing polarization, social fragmentation, and the challenging of representative democracy as well as developments in digital communication technology. Against this background, this peer reviewed book reflects recent conceptions of citizenship by bringing together insights from different disciplines, such as political science, sociology, economics, law, and history.

Markus Bayer (Dr.) works as a senior researcher at the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC). He holds a Ph. D. in Political Science from the University of Duisburg-Essen. He is specialised in the fields of resistance studies, democratic transitions, peace and conflict studies, arms control and militarization. Oliver Schwarz (Dr.) is a lecturer and researcher at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen. His research interests include the European integration and its effects on the member states, the EU enlargement and the external relations of the European Union. Toralf Stark (Dr.) works as a researcher at the professorship for Comparative Politics at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen. His research focuses on the following areas: political culture and political attitudes, understanding of democracy and political participation.