Course: National identity & citizenship
Citizenship in conflict-ridden societies
Welcome to this course on citizenship and statelessness. The interplay between national and religious identity is a main scope. You are invited to analyse cases from a human rights and interdisciplinary perspective.
Introduction video by course leader

Majority of the Rohingyas are already facing statelessness, with almost 1 million taking refuge in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Half a million Bengali Muslims are in danger of statelessness in Assam due to the new citizenship registration laws and practices. The course will enable you to discuss and examine different factors that influence citizenship from a human rights perspective, related to these and other cases in different parts of the world.

Course Aims

The course gives insight into and enables discussion of;

  • interplay between citizenship, national identity, statelessness and human rights
  • dilemmas in dealing with minority/majority relations in conflict-ridden societies
  • challenges minorities may face when majority religion is used to construct national identity, and when minorities have historical ties to a neighbouring country
  • national and international responsibilities for people deprived of citizenship
Course Modules

This course is divided into four main modules, addressing the following main questions:

    • What is the relationship between national identity and citizenship?
    • What may be consequences for religious minorities when a majority religion is used to define national identity?
    • How may exclusion from citizenship cause statelessness, and what are the challenges in particular for religious minorities with a neighbouring state connection?
    • Where does the responsibility lie in such a scenario, including that of the international community?
    • What relevance does birth registration have for the recognition of citizenship?
    • How does birth registration contribute to the protection of other human rights?
    • What are the similarities and differences in the challenges of citizenship and statelessness that the Rohingyas face compared to that of the Bengali Muslims in Assam?
    • How may the underlying human rights challenges addressed by these cases be found in other countries and regions where religious identity is used as a factor in defining citizenship and national identity?
Introduction to some cases

Amongst the cases analysed are: Rohingyas from Myanmar and the Bengali Muslims in Assam, India.

How to use the course

At the end of each module, there will be an opportunity to apply what you have perceived by way of interactive elements such as Quizzes etc., before moving to the next module. The expectation is to achieve minimum 60% correct answers in a quiz after each module to proceed to the next one. On completion of this course, you will receive a certificate.

If you don’t finish the course in one session, you can continue later from the same computer and browser you are using now.
Module 1
Citizenship and national identity
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National identity and majority/ minority relationship

A conflict between the majority and minority group has a serious impact on the nationality of a minority group as the majority rejects the minority identity with that of the national identity.

Notion of inclusion and exclusion to understand ethnic, religious, and linguistic identity

Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University discusses this using the case of Northern Thailand.

Identity and Migration politics

A short documentary that discusses migration politics in Assam, India, and why and how the new Indian Citizenship Amendment, 2019 particularly affects Assam

State approach to who a national is

Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University explains using the case of Southern Thailand that when there is an ethnic and religious difference, the state expects assimilation to the majority group.

Share your thoughts - (Optional)
You may learn something from other course participants by sharing your own ideas. To see what other people have have been writing on this topic you need to share your own ideas first. All posts will be listed with fist name only and approved by our editor before posted on-line. This step is not necessary to complete the course.

This is what other people think about the topic
To see what other people have have been writing on this topic you need to share your own ideas first.
How many people do you think were displaced in Iraqi camps during the ISIS occupation?
This task is optional - and will not effect your overall performance of results.
300
30 000
300 000
You are ready for the quiz.
Please answer all questions starting from the top.
Your results will be visible once the quiz is fully completed.

What are “minority rights” according to international law?

Correct! Wrong!

What are “minority rights” according to international law?

Correct! Wrong!

What are “minority rights” according to international law?

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What are “minority rights” according to international law?

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Course test
Module 2
Citizenship and statelessness
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Minority group being affected by statelessness

Fernand de Varennes, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, discusses the statelessness of minority groups using the situation of the Rohingyas as an example.

Dilemmas of kin-state affiliation

This short documentary discusses the repercussions of India’s Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. Discussing the citizenship registration practice in Assam and the influence of the latest Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, around 500,000 Bengali Muslims are at risk of becoming stateless

Module 3
Citizenship and birth registration
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Birth registration and identity

Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree, a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, addresses the impact of lack of birth registration on citizenship and protection of human rights using the example of an undocumented Rohingya person in Thailand.

Birth registration and human rights

Lack of birth registration and birth certificate have seen a serious impact on a person’s enjoyment of other rights. Fahmina, a PhD scholar at Mahidol University discusses the denial of education to Rohingya children in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp due to lack of documentations for Rohingya children.

Module 4
Comparison of two cases: The Rohingyas from Myanmar and Bengali Muslims from Assam, India.
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Genuine connection/ Social attachment

International law recognises nationality as a right and the concept of genuine connection/ social attachment as highlighted by the International Court of Justice in 1955 has relevance in recognising one's citizenship. Such a genuine link can be established, not least with continuity of residence, the establishment of personal relationships, acquisition of property, political participation, holding public offices, etc. On passing a minimum threshold of definitive residential criteria, one should have access to citizenship irrespective of not having any formal link


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