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Aristotle's Concept of Citizenship || UPSC Political Science

Background:- 

    In the age of Aristotle and Plato, internally Greek city-states were ground between the conflicts of rich and the poor, and externally they were threatened by the attacks of their neighbouring states. This drew the attention of these great philosophers to delve into finding the solutions to the problems. While, Plato presented the model of 'philosopher kings', Aristotle, rejecting the Plato's model, focused on the problem of citizenship. 

Definition of Citizenship

  • Citizenship is the privilege of ruling class -
    • The duty of public decision-making is confined to the ruling class.
    • All the members of the ruling class should perform this duty. Only this can bring good life to the members of political community (both citizens and non-citizens).
  • Citizenship is based on function:- 
    • Mere residing in the Greek city-state cannot accord a person citizenship of the state. Every person has to render service to the state.
    • Even birth in the state cannot be regarded as criteria for citizenship as the citizenship of parents is yet to be decided.
  • Citizenship on the basis of person's participation in 'judicial office'
    • Those holding judicial offices are citizens, but also - 
    • All those who participate in election to the ruler are eligible for citizenship.      

    Aristotle's model keeps away women, slaves, aliens, merchants, traders, shoemakers, and so on, away from the ambit of citizenship.

Status of the Citizen

  • Relationship between the ruler and other citizens in a state varies with the variations in the forms of government. For example, citizens under a despotic rule cannot enjoy the same privilege as those under a monarchical rule.

Functions of the Citizen

  • Citizens should develop competency to analyze political problems before jumping into shaping the rule.
  • Person's nature change with the change in forms of government. There is difference between a 'Good man' and a 'good citizen'. 
    • In a 'normal' form of govt., a 'good citizen' obeys the command of state as the state's objective is giving good life to its citizens.
    • In 'perverted' form of govt. a 'good citizen', obeying the command of the state, is not able to uphold the good of state.
  • A man should have sufficient leisure at his disposal to become a citizen of the state and hence play in active role in shaping the rule. This is because such man will not have greed. 
  • Function of citizen can be played only by Greeks as they have all above qualities. People of other geographical regions cannot be citizens for the following reasons:- 
    • People of cold regions such as Persia and the North are struggling for the means of survival. Therefore they have no time to analyze the problems of the State.
    • People of hot reasons are indolent and so they will accept despotic rule in order to escape from hard work. 
    • Low population (less than 10 thousand) is required to evolve an effective citizenship. 

Critical Appraisal - 

Racist ideology - 
  • Aristotle's concept of citizenship eulogize the Greek civilization.
  • He calls non-Greeks 'barbarians'.
  • He prefers - 
    • 'freemen' to ordinary men.
    • men to women
    • master to slave
    • mental labour to mannual labour
    • low population to high population.
    • Greeks to non-Greeks.
    Aristotle's concept of citizenship is totally irrelevant in modern world. Today, population is treated as human resource, women are equal to men in every field, mannual labour is seen with respect, citizenship is accorded without discrimination on the basis of race, caste, creed, religion, sex, etc. 
 
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