Statelessness and ‘right to have rights’. Importance of citizenship in protecting human rights of stateless communities

Table of Contents

Part One – Why Statelessness

Chapter 1: Introduction

I. Research design and question

II. Defining concepts

III. Relevance

Chapter 2: Statelessness and Right to have Rights

I. Human rights with or without citizenship

II. Problematising statelessness

III. Causes of statelessness

Chapter 3: Existing International Legal Framework

Part Two – Case Studies and Analyses

Chapter 4: Case Studies

I. Rohingyas in Myanmar

1. History and political context

2. The humanitarian crisis

3. International organisations’ response

II. Russian-speaking Minority in Latvia and Estonia

1. History and political context

2. The humanitarian crisis

3. International organisations’ response

Chapter 5: Against Statelessness: The Argument for ‘Right to Have Rights’

I. Answer to research questions

II. Policy and theoretical implications

III. Limitations and future recommendations

IV. Conclusion

Objective and Research Focus

This dissertation examines the critical importance of formal citizenship as a mechanism for protecting the human rights of stateless populations. By analyzing the legal and sociopolitical conditions of stateless groups, the study addresses the core question of whether human rights can be effectively safeguarded in the absence of national citizenship.

• The impact of statelessness on individual rights and access to social services.
• The inadequacy of current international legal frameworks in guaranteeing citizenship.
• Comparative analysis of the Rohingya community in Myanmar and Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltic States.
• The link between lack of legal nationality, forced displacement, and regional instability.
• The argument for formal citizenship as a prerequisite for the protection of civil liberties.

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Summary of Chapters

Chapter 1: Introduction: Defines statelessness and establishes the research design, emphasizing the geopolitical relevance of citizenship in the modern world.

Chapter 2: Statelessness and ‘right to have rights’: Discusses the academic debate on the necessity of citizenship and analyzes the severe socio-economic impacts of statelessness on individuals, society, and the state.

Chapter 3: Existing international legal framework: Reviews the existing international treaties and conventions, highlighting their limitations in providing protection and guaranteed nationality to stateless people.

Chapter 4: Case Studies: Provides an in-depth analysis of the Rohingya in Myanmar and Russian-speaking minorities in Latvia and Estonia, illustrating different forms of exclusion and state responses.

Chapter 5: Against Statelessness: The Argument for Right to Have Rights: Synthesizes the findings to argue that formal citizenship is the essential mechanism for human rights protection and proposes policy recommendations.

Key Terms

Statelessness, Citizenship, Human Rights, Nationality, Rohingya, Baltic States, Social Exclusion, International Law, Forced Displacement, Political Rights, Ethnic Persecution, UNHCR, Legal Bond, Right to have Rights, Human Security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this dissertation?

The dissertation primarily explores the nexus between formal citizenship and the protection of human rights, arguing that without a legal bond to a state, individuals are systematically deprived of fundamental rights.

What are the primary themes discussed?

Central themes include the impact of statelessness on human security, the ineffectiveness of current international legal protections, and the struggle for political and social inclusion by marginalized groups.

What is the main research question of this study?

The work seeks to determine whether formal citizenship is the only viable mechanism for the effective inclusion and protection of stateless people.

Which methodology is applied?

The study employs a comparative case study approach, analyzing two distinct stateless populations to evaluate human rights conditions and the response of international organizations.

What does the main body of the work cover?

It covers theoretical debates on citizenship, reviews international human rights frameworks, and provides detailed case studies on the Rohingya in Myanmar and Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltic States.

Which keywords best characterize this research?

The research is characterized by terms such as statelessness, citizenship, human rights, and legal nationality.

How does the Rohingya case differ from the Baltic case?

The Rohingya case involves absolute exclusion and systemic persecution, whereas the Baltic case involves stateless populations who enjoy social rights but face significant barriers to full political integration.

What does the author conclude about the "right to have rights"?

The author concludes that international legal protections are insufficient and that universal human rights remain largely inaccessible without the concrete protection afforded by national citizenship.