Citizenship: laws, reforms and comparative perspectives
The abrogative referendum held on 8–9 June 2025 placed the issue of Italian citizenship—namely the rules governing acquisition by naturalisation—at the centre of public debate.
This paper has been developed within the framework of the RISE Project (Responsible Involvement in Society and Elections). It offers an analysis of the concept of “citizenship”, with particular reference to the Italian case and the referendum, from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Following an opening reflection on the central—and sometimes instrumental—role played by citizenship in public and political debate, the paper turns to the RISE Project around the June 2025 referendum. It outlines its methodology, objectives and outcomes, with particular attention to the role of information and to the dynamics of disinformation that may shape the debate.
The paper then examines the Italian legal framework up until 2024—and beyond, considering that the reform was not approved by popular vote—and the procedures for acquiring citizenship, enriched by data. A comparative European perspective highlights reform models and evolving trends in other EU countries—notably Germany, France and Spain—and offer a legal reflection on the concepts of lawful residence and effective integration.
Finally, before some concluding remarks, the paper presents a sociological excursus on the lived experience of citizenship and the identity bond between individual and community.
Download the paper here
You can also find the recording of the webinar here