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What “counts” as transnational citizenship? Like the related notions of
global or transnational civil society, the term’s appeal to internationalists is greater
than its conceptual precision. However, a wide range of empirical trends do raise questions
about the nation-state-based approach to the concept of citizenship. In an effort
to avoid conceptual stretching, this essay assesses the degree to which the concept
of transnational citizenship helps to address issues raised by “globalization from below.”
Because many approaches to citizenship focus on the dynamics and texture of
participation, this review incorporates recent findings in sociology, anthropology, and
geography into the political science discussion. The essay is organized by propositions
that bring together analysis of two distinct empirical literatures, on transnational
civil society and on migrant civic and political participation. The review concludes by
contrasting two cross-cutting sets of definitional choices. The discussion is framed by
a recognition that definitions of citizenship vary along two main dimensions: in their
emphasis on rights versus membership, and in high versus low intensity. Only a very
bounded definition of transnational citizenship holds up under conceptual scrutiny,
limited to what is also called dual or multiple citizenship for migrants.