Annual Conference in Citizenship Studies 2014

From the ancient polis to the modern nation state citizenship has been defined in terms of attachment to a specifiable geographical area. Place figures centrally in citizenship for a number of reasons: Easily discernable spaces encourage interaction, invite commitment, and enable participation. At the same time, interaction, commitment, and participation give shape to the local geography of citizenship. The many local civic engagement efforts sprouting up globally attest to the continuing importance of place in citizenship. Many of these movements are intended to provide a discernible space of interaction, commitment, and participation. If the localencourages participation of inhabitants, it also pens out from citizenship thosewho are seen as alien to the locale. Yet modern revolutions in communication, transportation and technology have eroded the significance of place in citizenship. Exploring the relationship of place, placelessness and citizenship is the theme of the Eleventh Annual Center for the Study of Citizenship conference.