‘Being Political’ 20 years later: why is it good to think with Engin Isin?

The field of citizenship studies has long grappled with the complexities of defining and understanding citizenship beyond mere legal status or a set of obligations. Engin Isin's seminal work, "Being Political," published two decades ago, introduced a relational approach to citizenship, drawing on a Bourdieusian field-theoretical framework. This approach emphasizes the dynamic interplay of power, differences, and asymmetries in shaping subjects and their positions within society. Despite the growing popularity of relational approaches in various social sciences, citizenship studies have yet to fully embrace this perspective. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of considering citizenship as a multifaceted and contested concept, yet there remains a gap in integrating relational theories to explore the nuances of citizenship as alterity. Addressing this gap is crucial for advancing our understanding of citizenship in contemporary socio-political contexts, where articulations of sameness and difference play a pivotal role in constituting social groups and subject positions.

This research topic aims to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Engin Isin's "Being Political" by exploring the theoretical and empirical applications of the relational approach to citizenship. The objective is to engage with Isin's innovative framework to deepen the analysis of citizenship as a field and academic subject. By examining the central role of sameness and difference in constituting subjects and social groups, the research seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of citizenship embedded in various strategies, technologies, actions, and enactments. The goal is to open new avenues for engaging in the (re)structuring of citizenship within both socio-political and academic fields, ultimately expanding the meanings and significance of citizenship practices today.

To gather further insights in the relational investigation of citizenship, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Theoretical discussions on the relational approach to citizenship.
• Empirical studies applying relational frameworks to citizenship practices.
• The role of power dynamics in shaping citizenship and subject positions.
• Articulations of sameness and difference in constituting social groups.
• Citizenship enactments and activism beyond traditional binaries.
• The impact of global, national, and local contexts on citizenship practices.
• Innovative strategies and technologies in the enactment of citizenship.
• Contributions to the meta-theoretical context of citizenship studies

Keywords: citizenship, relational approach, enactment, being political, Isin, Political theory.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.