Statelessness: A Modern History

Two world wars left millions stranded in Europe. The collapse of empires and the rise of independent states in the twentieth century produced an unprecedented number of people without national belonging and with nowhere to go. Following a generation of theorists and practitioners who took up the problem of mass statelessness, Siegelberg weaves together a history of ideas of law and politics, rights and citizenship, with the intimate plight of stateless persons. Drawing on extensive archival research and an innovative approach to the history of international order, Siegelberg explores how and why the rise and fall of statelessness in modern thought compels a new understanding of the historical relationship between states and citizens, empires and states, and of the legitimation of the territorial state against alternative forms of political organization in the twentieth century.

Mira L. Siegelberg is University Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in The History of International Political Thought at Cambridge University. She received a PhD in History at Harvard University in 2014, after which she held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Princeton Society of Fellows, and a permanent lectureship in History and Law at Queen Mary, University of London. Her research focuses on the intellectual and legal history of international order and the history of modern legal thought. Her first book, Statelessness: A Modern History was published by Harvard University Press in October 2020.

The Washington History Seminar is co-chaired by Eric Arnesen (George Washington University and the National History Center) and Christian Ostermann (Woodrow Wilson Center) and is organized jointly by the National History Center of the American Historical Association and the Woodrow Wilson Center's History and Public Policy Program. It meets weekly during the academic year. The seminar thanks its anonymous individual donors and institutional partners (the George Washington University History Department and the Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest) for their continued support.

[isatousarr]

Statelessness is a pressing human rights issue that affects millions of people worldwide, leaving them without legal recognition by any country. Being stateless means lacking the nationality or citizenship that provides access to fundamental rights and services such as education, healthcare, employment, and legal protection. It often results in marginalization, poverty, and vulnerability to exploitation.

The causes of statelessness are varied and complex, ranging from gaps in nationality laws, discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or gender, and arbitrary deprivation of nationality, to historical shifts like the dissolution of states or forced displacement. For example, children born to stateless parents or in regions with restrictive birth registration practices can inherit this condition, perpetuating cycles of exclusion.

Addressing statelessness requires coordinated efforts at both national and international levels. Governments can take steps to reform discriminatory laws, improve civil registration systems, and implement measures to prevent statelessness, such as granting nationality to children born on their territory if they would otherwise be stateless. International organizations, such as the UNHCR, play a critical role in advocating for the rights of stateless individuals, supporting legal reforms, and raising awareness of the issue.

At its core, statelessness is a denial of dignity and humanity. By tackling its root causes and ensuring that every person has the legal recognition they deserve, we can move closer to a world where everyone is empowered to live with the rights and opportunities afforded by citizenship.

[billbrimmer]

Congratulations to Ms. Siegelberg on her excellent book.