Citizenship

Greek and Cypriot society has arguably many elements of traditionalism (informality, clientelism, family-based solidarity) affecting people’s perceptions of and attitudes towards a series of issues, from questions of ‘profit’ and ‘career’ to questions of social solidarity, civic engagement and the role of the State in serving its citizens. The modernisation and integration of their economies have put strain on this more traditionalist social edifice. In this research theme, we want to encourage and facilitate research that will address the drivers and implications of societal attitudes towards civic engagement, social solidarity, migration, the State (e.g., the notion of ‘tax-paying citizen’) and cultural minorities–also in relation to religious and gender-identity issues. Prospe- ctive projects within this theme include analyses of the impact of recent crises and ‘polycrises’ on people’s preferences and trust to political and other institutions; identity formation within and against diasporic communities; attitudes towards the rights of cultural and ethnic minorities; and questions of meritocracy and the provision of public and social welfare services.