Seeing citizenship: singularity, multiplicity, complexity in times of crisis

ABSTRACT The Covid-19 pandemic brought to light the phenomenon of simultaneous and widespread activation of different ‘faces’ of citizenship. Citizenship as restriction played a major part in enacting government-imposed restrictions to mobility and public interactions; and citizenship as social protection was essential criteria for the allocation of social benefits. At the same time, citizenship also inspired radical opposition to governments’ impositions and experts’ opinion; and, citizenship as care reflected the enactment of collective identity, forged on principles of reciprocity and mutual aid. This article contends the concurrent activation of disparate ‘faces’ of citizenship during the pandemic provides an opportunity to consider both the distinctive character of each ‘face’ as well as the points of dynamic overlap and co-constitution amongst them. Building on studies of complex systems, the article argues that how we see citizenship influences the types of questions and analysis we set to explore. Using the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the article lays out an initial approach to seeing citizenship from the vantage point of complex integrative thinking. Upholding both the singularity and multiplicity of the different ‘faces’, the article engages in preliminary examination of both their distinctiveness as well as points of overlap, co-constitution, and synergy.