Exploring the GLOBALCIT citizenship law dataset : potential and pitfalls of global comparison

Abstract

The Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT) is a research network committed to fact-based and non-partisan analysis of citizenship laws and electoral rights around the world. One of the Observatory’s core products is the open-access GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset (‘the Dataset’), which systematises information on the different ways in which citizenship can be acquired and lost around the world. The Dataset facilitates comparisons of the rules applicable to similar groups across countries and provides a global outlook on the current state of citizenship law. The Dataset is designed for use across academic disciplines, as well as by practitioners and policymakers. This contribution outlines the purpose of the Dataset; explains its comparative methodology and data sources; highlights the different ways in which the Dataset can be used by citizenship scholars across disciplines; and discusses possible pitfalls researchers should be aware of when comparing citizenship laws globally.