Notions of citizenship have long been conceptualized as rights and responsibilities linked to membership in a political community. These notions are intimately related to our identities as citizens and to issues of social justice. The extent to which citizenship institutions and practices are inclusive or exclusive of the interests and concerns of most vulnerable groups, serves as a barometer of the values of social justice linked to particular groups and communities around the globe. The degree to which citizens’ rights are given priority over citizens’ responsibilities is also indicative of the commitment to social justice by powerful elites and organizations. In-so-far as social justice calls for the mobilization of an equitable distribution of fundamental resources, and respect for human dignity and diverse practices of belonging, issues of identity have been used as a language to demand, and also deny, an extension of citizenship rights.

The international conference on Citizenship, Identity, and Social Justice will explore historical, political, social, cultural, and intellectual trends in the conceptualization of social justice and its relationship to institutions and practices of citizenship. It will also consider how social and political struggles surrounding identity are interlinked with notions of citizenship and social justice. The conference will bring together internationally acclaimed scholars, researchers, and activists whose work addresses the complex relationships among citizenship, identity, and social justice.