The Comment Of T·H·Marshall’s Citizenship Theory

Citizenship as an important political concept, is not only a political theory researchfoundation, is also one of the goals of political practice. Since ancient Greece, manypoliticians devoted to the study of citizenship, it is pushed to the acme famous Britishsociologist and political scientists T·H·Marshall’s citizenship theory. Marshall pioneeredthe use of the concept of citizenship， citizenship combined with the development ofsocial class, and analyzed the three kinds of rights. His understanding of the citizens’rights, is together with nation state and welfare system. In his ideas, the basis ofcitizenship belongs to the nation state and the range of the welfare system maintenance.Marshall says, therefore, to establish the welfare state, is to coordinate form of therelationship between equality and sustainable social class differentiation of ways andmeans. In this paper, the Marshall’s citizenship theory, from the background, introducedthe basic content at the same time, from two aspects of theory and reality of Marshall’scitizenship theory criticism and analysis.Thus, this paper is divided into three parts:The first part expounds Marshall’s citizenship theory background. Social beingdetermines social consciousness; Marshall’s citizenship theory proposed had a profoundsocial background. The development of the theory of liberalism citizenship, BeveridgeReport had proposed and economist Alfred Marshall’s understanding of citizenship, forthe Marshall’s citizenship theory was born to lay the foundation. Citizenship theoryresearch is divided into two types: republicanism citizenship and liberalism citizenship,And socialist citizenship originated earlier, can hold to period of ancient Greece. Whilewith the development of the era, especially the rise of cities, liberalism citizenship, andshown a stronger vitality, it is emphasized the private sector, and the realization ofindividual rights. Marshall’s citizenship theory is committed to the research of solvingthis problem, so, his theory belongs to liberalism citizenship theory, by the greatinfluence of republicanism identity theory. In addition, the1942Beveridge Report, the butler education act of1944and1946, the national health care bill was proposed andenacted, Also become an important driving force Marshall proposed its citizenshiptheory, they have issued, for the world’s first appearance of the welfare state laid a solidfoundation, This makes Marshall feel blood boiling, also became his theoreticaldemonstration on the welfare state. Finally, Marshall’s citizenship theory is put forwardin1949, in memory of the economist Alfred Marshall annual lecture delivered thespeech. His speech to the second year, Marshall expanded, forming the famous“citizenship and social class”， Clearly put forward the concept of brewing in theancient Greek:“Citizenship”, from then on he became famous. Alfred Marshall thoughtthrough economic and education could improve the condition of the working class, andachieve the standard of living of the “gentleman”. Marshall was based on it andextended, put forward its own basic point.The second part discusses the basic content of Marshall’s citizenship theory,including two aspects of the core of its theory and implementation path. Modern societyput forward by the Marshall’s membership is “freedom” and “democracy” nationalcountry of citizenship, with its operation within the territory of industrial capitalismsystem as a foundation; he includes civil rights, political rights and social rights. Thisway of classification of citizenship since then has been widely applied, as one of themain paradigm of modern citizenship theory. This section will detail the Marshallexplanation for three kinds of rights. At the same time, also because Marshall, theconcept of citizenship began pushing west towards the development of the supply of thewelfare state. Marshall says, only in a free, democratic welfare state, the three rights ofcitizens will get real embodiment. Marshall’s point of view, therefore, can also bediscussed; set up the welfare state is to realize the ways and means to citizenship. Here,Marshall was carried out on the rights of “welfare” thinking and rethinking, he asked,this is only for welfare rights do exist, and the right of this idea is how to influencesocial policy. Marshall “welfare rights” of this group for the pauper has carried on theprofound thought, think of the paoper is a disenfranchised person, rather than give himright. Must be the obligation of handouts to him has been recognized, but it is not heshall have the right to get relief. About Marshall of the construction of the welfare statemode, he is considered one of the first questions of the welfare state of two principles:the principle of individualism and collectivism principle, to establish a welfare state,must coordinate the two principles, and countries also have a responsibility to do so.Another important problem is the problem of equality of opportunity, namely without giving up under the condition of social and economic inequality, and how to realize theequality of opportunity. Marshall says, parents occupation and social status, and the wayeducation children influence is very big, this leads to the inequality, the inequality is awelfare state powerless, this needs to keep economic inequality and the excellent talentscan be selected to enhance the competitive, at the same time, countries have anobligation to spend the same amount of power to build infrastructure in order to reducethe gap between the external.The third part is the criticism of the Marshall’s citizenship theory and analysis.Marshall’s citizenship theory has iconic meaning, research on the contemporary theorieson citizenship has immeasurable significant impact, has an immeasurable significantimpact on contemporary citizenship theory research. However, there are two sides toeverything, Marshall’s citizenship theory also cannot ignore its flaws exist, later alsomake a lot of criticism to the Marshall’s citizenship theory. First of all, it is a Britishcharacteristic, more specifically, he was too centered on the angles, it also determinesthe scope of application of the theory is narrow. Anthony·M·Reese said that Marshallproposed a series of civil and political rights, social rights is very suitable for the UK,but not necessarily apply to other countries. Second, Marshall too outstanding peopleagree and obedience, ignore popular struggle results. Marshall says the emergence,development and evolution of the citizenship is a natural process, but in fact, it is aresult of the struggle that people as exploiters to change their living condition, as thecore power of citizenship movement, the concept of social struggle doesn’t get enough‘stress’. About this criticism, Anthony Giddens and Michael Mann, described in theirarticles respectively. Again, Marshall in the process of research, too much attention tothe right (especially social rights), and neglect duty, this is mainly manifested in the1970s western conservative criticism of the welfare state. Finally, Marshall’s discussionto the exclusion of women, he focuses on citizenship and the relationship between thesocial class, so he can’t see the historical and contemporary citizenship in the practice ofthe importance of gender differences (and other). Marshall, ignore the gender inequalityin the class, women are not from the start with the same rights as men, while hisresearch mainly describes a male citizens of citizenship.