The Shifting Parameters of Nationality 271 translate into multiple, interrelated levels of citizenship, including EU citizenship. The first part thus clarifies the terminological choices made in this article,4 more particularly regarding the use of the terms ‘citizenship’ and ‘nationality’. The second part (Sect. 3) continues with a focus on the state as the (most) relevant political community, and further elaborates on the multi-dimensional notion of citizenship in reference to membership of the state. Subsequently, the analysis of the third part (Sect. 4) zooms in on nationality as the legal bond between individual and state, while taking note on the one hand of the impact of the expanding human rights paradigm, constraining state sovereignty in ever more domains, and on the other the reality of extensive migration, resulting in a ‘mobile world’. The analysis in this part takes up four interrelated themes, namely requirements for acquisition of nationality (4.1), the ensuing rights/protections and obligations (4.2), the right to a nationality/ fight against statelessness (4.3) and dual nationality (4.4). In view of the respective focus of the following articles,5 the discussion here will be more elaborate on (shifts in) rights and obligations that hinge on nationality. Some concluding observations (Sect. 5) on the lines developed in this article are followed by a fifth part (Sect. 6) which explains the composition of the special issue. 2 A Historical Conceptual Account of the Notion of Citizenship and Its Relation to ‘Nationality’ The notion of ‘citizenship’ has triggered a burgeoning literature from a wide variety of disciplines, including political theory, sociology, political philosophy, and law. Notwithstanding the divergent points of view that are visible in that literature, broad agreement about the core meaning of citizenship does emerge. Citizenship refers to membership of a polity, of a political community, and thus revolves around questions of inclusion and—as the other side of the coin—exclusion.6 Another central theme throughout the literature is the fundamental role of equality in relation to citizenship, not only the entitlement of citizens to equal rights, but also the expanding role of the prohibition of discrimination in relation to access and deprivation of citizenship.7 The state may still be the dominant point of reference for discussions of citizenship, the notion citizenship has ancient origins.8 A terminological clarification is called for prior to delving into a historical account of the shifts over time of the (spatiality of the) most relevant political community. The literature reveals that some authors use the terms citizenship and nationality interchangeably, while others use 4 In line with the overall lack of consistency in the literature, other authors in this special issue may use the terms differently. That is each time explained in each respective article. 5 The thematic analysis will each time make cross-references to the (most) relevant contributions in this special issue on the topic concerned. 6 Joppke (2017), p. 392; Shachar et al. (2017), p. 5. 7 Rubenstein (2004), pp. 5–6. 8 Some even go back to first permanent settlements in the Neo-lithic period: inter alia, Diener (2017) p. 37. 123