European citizenship in quest of a political culture: supranational by law or transnational by politics?

Abstract

The present article raises crucial questions regarding European citizenship. How has European citizenship been constructed and manifested within the legal and political domains of the European integration project, and how European citizens perceive their rights and duties across supranational and transnational manifestations of European citizenship? The main argument of this article is that European citizenship is constructed by European law in an ambiguous way, allowing for both supranational and transnational interpretations. Similarly, an individualistic conception of citizenship, as an earned status, rather than a vehicle for creating political culture of solidarity, justice, and inclusion, has been limiting the potential of the endeavour itself. The current work builds upon the foundations of political theory and employs a legal and political interpretive methodology.