Book Review: Fully Human
as a non-binary concept is no particularly innovative proposal, given that other
scholars have developed similar ideas of degrees of citizenship. 27 Moreover, one
could criticise that other (non-ethnically defined) groups could have been added
to the discussion — for example, along the lines of disability, gender and sexual
orientation, or conduct (as in the case of convicted criminals losing their right to
vote as a consequence of a prison sentence, or alleged terrorists being deprived of
citizenship). Nevertheless, with its focus on stateless persons; forcibly displaced
persons; irregular migrants; nomadic peoples; indigenous nations; and secondclass citizens, Kingston’s book offers a convincing analysis of the problem, an
interesting normative claim and very practical first steps towards possible
solutions. Kingston thereby makes a valuable and important contribution to the
emerging field of statelessness studies. It will not only be interesting for academics
in the fields of law, political theory, international relations, sociology,
anthropology or history but also for practitioners — activists, journalists, lawyers,
or migration authorities — and, maybe most importantly, for individuals claiming
full and functioning citizenship.
27
One might think of Elizabeth F Cohen, Margaret Somers or Iris Marion Young on whose
work Kingston draws in her book, but also scholars such as Linda Bosniak, Audrey Macklin,
Nira Yuval Davies or Leti Volpp.
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