Defining British Citizenship
Empire, Commonwealth and Modern Britain
British Politics and Society Series

Unlike many nations Britain had not developed a national citizenship by the 20th century. Instead belonging in Britain was merely a function of allegiance to the Crown. This lack of definition was seen as beneficial. This title explores the implications of such vagueness as a new millennium begins.

Understanding citizenship; the development of British subjecthood before the 20th century; the common code system - Britain and the dominions in the pre-Second World War period; Commonwealth citizenship - from the British Nationality Act 1948 to the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962; emerging national citizenship through immigration control - from the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 to the Immigration Act 1971; epilogue - an appraisal of the British Nationality Act 1981; conclusion; appendices.

Rieko Karantani

This book explains the immigration and citizenship policies in Britain that repeatedly postponed the creation of British citizenship until 1981.