Enfranchisement on the basis of integration : A normative critique against time requirements and bureaucratic burdens as unjustified obstacles to citizenship: the Swedish case

Abstract: In a globalized world, the constant mobilization of people highlights the relevance of citizenship as the mean for full membership in the state. Considering that, in practice, the population of modern states does not only consist of citizens, this thesis presents a theoretical analysis on the principles and policies for the inclusion of non-citizens. This discussion considers two concerns: first, who should be included as members of the state qua citizens, and second, how should non-citizens be enfranchised. In the first part, I review models that discuss if membership in the state should be more restrictive or more inclusive; the second part analyzes formal mechanisms for the inclusion of non-citizens, in particular integration and citizenship policies. The conclusions drawn from this discussion suggest that integration is the core requirement for citizenship, thus it is arbitrary to condition either citizenship acquisition or enfranchisement with other requirements. Specifically, the thesis offers a normative critique against universal time requirements and bureaucratic burdens as unjustified obstacles to citizenship. As an illustration for the arguments given, I study the policy for the acquisition of citizenship in Sweden.