The Downside Up
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Citizenships Through Descent
(For the subject of this piece I am coming from the perspective of a citizen hailing from a country that permits dual-citizenship.)
There is likely a large segment of American citizens that are unaware of a part of themselves. Or rather, of hidden apples on branches of their family tree, branches that they though were just good for family stories around the fire and genealogy research. But Grandfather O'Malley might not just be the source of amusing anecdotes on alcoholism. He he might just be the source of another citizenship.
In most cases these nice gifts from our forebearers are not actually anything they've left us intentionally like jewelry or photo albums, but as a result of one or more of our ancestors hailing from nations with a citizenship law rooted in the Jus sanguinis vein of conferring citizenship. Put simply, it's citizenship passed down through the blood of your parents, rather than through the place you were born (referred to as Jus soli, which is our system here in the U.S.). There are degrees and exceptions to each avenue of possible aquisition of another citizenship based on your ancestory; either you might not have an immediate enough ancestor to gain one (such as Ireland's only going up to an Irish grandparent), or you might not be eligible for citizenship at all, but rather that country's version of a U.S. Green Card, or Permanent Residency.
Some countries, mindful of the possibility that some descendants of yesteryears emigrants might want to parley their good fortune of, for instance, a German grandmother into German citizenship have amended their citizenship laws to a tighter standard, which is logical for them, but unfortunate for us. In Germany's case they still leave a window open for those of German descent from Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, and also those expelled during the Nazi era. Other smaller countries, with smaller numbers of emigrants over the years have left their system more or less intact, partly to preserve their cultural links, partly to leave a friendly door open to those descendants who might find themselves in unfortunate circumstances of low quality of life, famine, war, etc. And then you have a country like Italy. Which, like Germany, has over the years since its unification seen a very large number of it's children leave it's fair shores in search of a better life. Italy has arguably the most generous citizenship laws in respect to descendants of Italian citizens. It can be passed on indefinitely, but there are slight catches to the rule which can't be fully illustrated here.
Some people would like to establish their birth right secondary citizenship for nostalgia's sake. Others would want it purely for economic reasons. Still others might want a vacation on the beaches of Greece sans visa hassles, or maybe to study for cheaper or free tuition rates at some of the best Universities in the world. And in the background there are the detractors who would call any and all such acts unpatriotic. But in our modern times, where we are connected around the globe like never before in the history of civilization, in the linguistic and cultural labyrinth that defines us as human beings, I think it's worth it. If just to broaden our scope on life. Or if just for the free healthcare.
If you're curious about your ancestors and the possibility of your eligibility for another citizenship I encourage you to pursue it and research! The ones I mentioned in brief in the blurb are by no means the only countries with such citizenship laws. If, like me, you come up short, your family being just too American for just too long, then at least you've gained some insight into the past and the world around you (and possibly the naturalization requirements for other citizenships ;) ).
