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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
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| Title: | Evaluating the dual citizenship - state building - nation building nexus in Liberia |
| Author: | Neajai Pailey, Robtel |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Periodical: | Liberian Studies Journal (ISSN 0024-1989) |
| Volume: | 36 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Pages: | 1-24 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Liberia |
| Subjects: | citizenship State formation nation building legislation legal status diasporas |
| Abstract: | State-building and nation-building in Liberia cannot be fully operationalized without an interrogation of the meaning of citizenship, given that the nation-state of Liberia is fundamentally de-territorialized, with a sizeable number of Liberians scattered throughout the globe, yet still fully engaged as transnational beings. This article scrutinizes the markers of citizenship, narrowly defined in Liberia's current 'Aliens and Nationality Law'. The extent to which state-building and nation-building initiatives in Liberia must contend with the question of citizenship is evaluated, as many Liberians abroad have naturalized elsewhere and, therefore, have 'formally' relinquished their citizenship. The article is also a discussion of the proposed dual citizenship bill which is currently before the Legislature, as well as how this legislation could harness or hinder Liberia's postconflict reconstruction efforts. The major point of contention herein is that in the spirit of nation-building, the proposed dual citizenship legislation cannot be legitimized by a small group of lawmakers, but must undergo national deliberations and scrutiny before being subject to a referendum once those deliberations are finally exhausted. Bibliogr., notes. [ASC Leiden abstract] |