In ordinary parlance, a citizen is one who lives in a city. As a political concept, however, the term is not used in this sense. According to Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, a citizen is a person who takes a direct and active part in the administration of the state.

This concept of citizenship was possible in the ancient Greek city-states which used to be very small in population and territory. Moreover, in ancient Greece, citizenship was a privilege which was conferred upon the selected few. Women, manual workers and slaves were denied all the rights of citizenship.

Since there were a very small number of citizens in a Greek city state, it was possible for them, to take an active part in the administration of the state. In Athens and many other city states of ancient Greece, there were 50,000 citizens as compared to 1,00,000 slaves.

The position was not very different in ancient Rome and European medieval free cities except that in medieval Europe, the place of slaves was taken up by the serfs. In modern country-states, however, which have not only a large population but also an extensive territory, this concept of citizenship is not possible.

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Rights of citizenship in the modern period are granted to all without any distinction. It is, therefore, impracticable for citizens to take a direct share in the government.

Vattel defines a modern citizen as a member of civil society, bound to it by certain duties, subjected to its authority and an equal recipient of its advantage”.

According to this definition, a citizen as a member of a state, owes allegiance to it and enjoys the protection and benefits granted by it.

Prof. Laski, however, defined “citizenship as the contribution of one’s instructed judgment to the public good”. This is a more positive aspect of citizenship. A citizen, according to Laski, must contribute his mite towards the material and moral advancement of society.

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However, the main conception of citizenship has not changed materially through the ages though it has become more positive, constructive and comprehensive today. Its essential characteristic is the possession of full political rights by the individual in addition to civil rights which are fundamental to civilized existence.

According to Prof. Laski, a citizen not only enjoys certain civil and political rights but also he performs certain duties towards the state to promote the general well-being and progress of the society.

A citizen owes allegiance and loyalty to the state and may be called upon to sacrifice his life and property for the sake of the state.