Chapter 1. Introduction contribution that this study intends to make on the concept of nationality or citizenship from a human rights perspective on preventing and solving statelessness in Europe can therefore be of interest to this more general societal debate on nationality and its contemporary meaning and limits. In academic (legal) debate and on the human rights agenda, statelessness is no longer a novelty or ‘forgotten’ issue.17 However, it is at the same time not as established and well-researched as, for instance, the plight of refugees. As such, this dissertation adds to the state of the art on the issue of statelessness. In particular, it makes a new contribution by specifically focusing on European law on preventing and solving statelessness. No such comprehensive analysis has so far been conducted on this specific topic, even if we have seen different publications focusing on statelessness in Europe.18 Furthermore, this study aims to contribute to theories on and conceptions of nationality and citizenship – concepts that remain under discussion in academic circles from different perspectives.19 With the specific focus on preventing and solving 17 18 19 Martin Scheinin (eds), Human Dignity and Human Security in Times of Terrorism (T.M.C. Asser Press 2020) Ch 8; Gerard-René de Groot & Olivier Vonk, ‘Jihad en ontneming van nationaliteit. Nederlandse plannen in vergelijkend perspectief’ in Pauline Kruiniger (ed), Recht van de Islam 30: ‘Jihad, islam en recht: jihadisme en reacties vanuit het Nederlandse en Belgische recht’ (Boom juridische uitgevers 2017); Patrick Wautelet, ‘Deprivation of citizenship for ‘jihadists’. Analysis of Belgian and French practice and policy in light of the principle of equal treatment’ in Pauline Kruiniger (ed), Recht van de Islam 30: ‘Jihad, islam en recht: jihadisme en reacties vanuit het Nederlandse en Belgische recht’ (Boom juridische uitgevers 2017). Cf Laura van Waas, ‘‘Are We There Yet?’ Emergence of Statelessness on the International Human Rights Agenda’ (2014) 32 Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights 342; Tamás Molnár, ‘Remembering the Forgotten: International Legal Regime on Protecting the Stateless Persons – Stocktaking and New Tendencies’ (2014) 11 US-China Law Review 822. Many commentaries focus either on protection of stateless people, on specific issues relating to statelessness (discrimination, minorities) or stateless groups, or focus for instance on (the) EU (law) solely. eg Laura van Waas, ‘Statelessness: A 21st Century Challenge for Europe’ (2009) 20 Security and Human Rights 133; Caroline Sawyer & Brad K Blitz, Statelessness in the European Union. Displaced, Undocumented, Unwanted (Cambridge University Press 2011); Jessica Parra, ‘Stateless Roma in the European Union: Reconciling the Doctrine of Sovereignty concerning Nationality Laws with International Agreements to Reduce and Avoid Statelessness’ (2011) 34 Fordham International Law Journal 1666; Claude Cahn, ‘Minorities, Statelessness and Citizenship in Europe’ (2012) 14 European Journal of Migration and Law 297; Gábor Gyulai, ‘Statelessness in the EU Framework for International Protection’ (2012) 14 European Journal of Migration and Law 279; Laura van Waas, ‘Fighting Statelessness and Discriminatory Nationality Laws in Europe’ (2012) 14 European Journal on Migration and Law 243; Olivier Vonk, Maarten Vink & Gerard-René de Groot, ‘Protection Against Statelessness: Trends and Regulations in Europe’ (GLOBALCIT, EUDO Citizenship Observatory, Country Reports, 2013/01) <http://cadmus.eui.eu//handle/1814/30201> accessed 22 August 2021; Katja Swider & Maarten den Heijer, ‘ Why Union Law Can and Should Protect Stateless Persons’ (2017) 19 European Journal of Migration and Law 101. Eg T Alexander Aleinikoff & Douglas Klusmeyer (eds), Citizenship Today. Global Perspectives and Practices (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 2001); Christian Joppke, ‘Transformation of Citizenship: Status, Rights, Identity’ (2007) 11 Citizenship Studies 37; Ernst Hirsch Ballin, Citizens’ Rights and the Right to Be a Citizen (Developments in International Law Vol 66, Brill Nijhoff 2014); Audrey Macklin, ‘Sticky Citizenship’ in Rhoda E Howard-Hassmann & Margaret Walton-Roberts (eds) The Human Right to Citizenship. A Slippery Concept (University of Pennsylvania Press 2015); Rainer Bauböck (ed), Debating Transformations of National Citizenship (IMISCOE Research Series, SpringerOpen 2018). Intersentia 9