A geography of extra-territorial citizenship: Explanations of external voting. (13th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Collyer, Michael
• Is Part Of: Migration studies. Volume 2:Number 1(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2013-02-13
• Subjects: geography -- citizenship -- transnational, elections -- democracy; Emigration and immigration -- Periodicals; Forced migration -- Periodicals; 304.805
• DOI: 10.1093/migration/mns008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-5838

Abstract

Abstract: Geographers have a long-standing interest in citizenship as the link between political and territorial membership. Yet, even when key political processes associated with citizenship, such as voting or lobbying government institutions are carried out from beyond the territory there is a more complex relationship with territory than the simple 'inside/outside' division that external voting suggests. This article develops a specifically geographical analysis of the territorial context of voting practices. Although a number of general explanations have been offered for the introduction of external voting, and for the nature of the systems introduced it seems that contextual, country-specific factors concerning the history and nature of the relationship between the government and emigrant groups are usually determinant.