The Centre of Ethnicity and Citizenship Seminar Series

Thom Brooks (Durham University)  

Can - or should - we test for citizenship?

Date: 3rd May 2018

Time: 5-7pm

Venue: G1, 7 Priory Rd

Abstract:

Many countries, including the United States, have introduced citizenship tests that migrants must pass to become a citizen. A common aim is to support the integration of migrants into their new community. However, there is little evidence this is achieved and often the use of tests may have negative effects that are unrecognized by governments using them. Professor Thom Brooks, Dean of Durham Law School, explores the use of citizenship tests in US and UK. A dual national of both countries, he sat the British test first-hand. Brooks published the only comprehensive report into the UK's test which has been cited repeatedly in the UK's Parliament. In this talk, Brooks considers the lessons in how not to test for citizenship with examples aimed to inform as much as they might entertain.