Citizenship and Money: Historical Snapshots

Abstract

This chapter explores the centrality of money and property in the regulation and practices of citizenship since ancient times. It explains how possessions have historically drawn boundaries between different groups of people within and across communities, and highlights examples in which this practice was not possible. The chapter starts with a discussion of the relationship between property and statuses during Greek ad Roman times, hinting at the roots of the practice of wealth-based admission. It then looks at the evolution of the link between citizenship and money in feudal times, during various stages of capitalism, and in socialist societies. The final section of the chapter looks at how globalization since the late twentieth century has created an entirely new environment for a market in citizenship.