In today’s United States, the experience of citizenship is not the straightforward, empowering ideal that many are taught to expect. While American citizenship theoretically offers rights, freedoms, and a voice in the democratic process, the reality is much more complicated. Across economic, racial, and social lines, being an American means something different to everyone—and often, those differences reveal painful truths about power, inequality, and belonging. This article delves into the contradictions of American citizenship, exploring how it is shaped by the country’s history, its evolving socio-political landscape, and the personal battles that millions face within this system.
Power and the Illusion of Control in a “Democratic” System
For most Americans, the concept of democratic power—the belief that individuals can shape their government—is a foundational aspect of citizenship. The idea that every citizen has a voice, a vote, and a role in how the country is governed is central to the national identity. But when examined closely, this notion begins to crumble.
Symbolic Power and the Limits of Voting
Voting is the most celebrated act of democratic participation. Yet, the mechanics of the political system limit its impact for many Americans. Gerrymandering (manipulating electoral boundaries for political advantage) and voter suppression (strategies used to prevent specific groups from voting) are widespread. These tactics ensure that many feel their vote doesn’t truly matter—especially in states where political parties have effectively guaranteed election outcomes before citizens even head to the polls.
Moreover, the disproportionate influence of money in politics cannot be ignored. Political campaigns, particularly for national office, are often won by the candidate with the largest fundraising war chest. This reality creates a system where wealthy donors and corporate interests exert far more influence than the average citizen. According to OpenSecrets, during the 2020 election cycle, over $14 billion was spent on federal elections—more than twice the total in 2016. This means that even though Americans are voting, the outcomes are often shaped by forces beyond their control.
The Bureaucratic State: The Invisibility of Power
For many Americans, interacting with their government occurs not through political engagement but through navigating the labyrinth of bureaucracy. Whether it’s applying for social services, dealing with immigration paperwork, or filing taxes, the system is complex and difficult to navigate, designed more to maintain order than to facilitate service. In sociological terms, bureaucracy can be understood as a system of control, where the state exerts power over citizens in ways that are invisible but deeply impactful.
Take, for example, the U.S. healthcare system. In theory, access to healthcare is a right; in practice, it is a privilege often denied to those who cannot afford it. Despite programs like Medicaid and Medicare, millions of Americans remain uninsured or underinsured. This structural inefficiency and inequity have led to avoidable deaths and financial ruin for many families. The power to shape one’s life, in this sense, becomes contingent on navigating an opaque system that often seems designed to exclude those who need it most.
Economic Disparities: The Silent Separator of Citizenship
The promise of equal opportunity has long been a defining feature of American citizenship. The idea that hard work, talent, and perseverance will lead to success—the so-called American Dream—has been central to the nation’s self-image. However, this dream is increasingly out of reach for large portions of the population. Today, economic disparities are widening the gap between who can fully participate in society and who remains on the margins.
Capitalism and the Decline of the Middle Class
Economic inequality has always been a part of American life, but since the 1980s, it has grown to alarming levels. Globalization, automation, and the decline of labor unions have decimated industries that once provided stable, well-paying jobs. As a result, the middle class—the backbone of American society for much of the 20th century—has shrunk dramatically. According to the Pew Research Center, the share of U.S. aggregate income held by the middle class decreased from 62% in 1970 to 42% in 2020.
Citizenship in a robust middle class once meant access to quality education, healthcare, and the possibility of homeownership. These benefits have become increasingly difficult to attain as wages stagnate and the cost of living rises. For those who can no longer afford these basics, citizenship feels like a hollow designation—a legal status with little practical benefit.
The Invisible Citizens: Poverty and the American Underclass
For Americans living in poverty, the story is even grimmer. Struggling to meet basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare, these individuals often feel alienated from the concept of citizenship entirely. The experience of poverty in America is deeply tied to structural forces like wage stagnation, racial discrimination, and an eroding social safety net. Policies that might help lift people out of poverty—such as a living wage, affordable housing initiatives, or universal healthcare—are often politically unpopular or blocked by special interests.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022, 37.9 million Americans were living in poverty. For these citizens, the promises of freedom and opportunity ring hollow. When the ability to meet basic needs is denied, how can anyone meaningfully participate in civic life? Economic citizenship, in this context, becomes a paradox: they are legally American, but economically disenfranchised.
Race and the Incomplete Project of American Citizenship
From its inception, the United States has struggled with the question of race and citizenship. The country’s founding documents spoke of equality and freedom, yet enshrined slavery and denied full rights to people of color. Though legislative victories in the 20th century made great strides in expanding citizenship rights, systemic racism remains a profound barrier to true equality.
The Incarceration State and the Legacy of Slavery
One of the most glaring examples of racialized citizenship in the U.S. is the mass incarceration of Black Americans. Though the Civil Rights Movement succeeded in dismantling legal segregation, it did not address the systemic forces that continue to disproportionately criminalize and incarcerate people of color. The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and Black men are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of white men, according to the NAACP.
This mass incarceration not only strips individuals of their freedom but also erodes the concept of citizenship itself. Felony disenfranchisement laws in many states prevent those with criminal records from voting, even after serving their sentences. For these individuals, citizenship is conditional—a privilege that can be revoked by the state, particularly if you are Black and poor.
Immigration and the Battle for Belonging
The experience of Latinx and Asian American communities also underscores the tension between citizenship and belonging. Despite their long histories in the U.S., these groups often face xenophobia and are treated as perpetual outsiders. The immigration debate, in particular, has become a lightning rod for questions about who truly “belongs” in America.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides temporary protection for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, illustrates this battle for belonging. While these individuals have grown up in the U.S. and consider themselves American, their legal status is precarious, dependent on shifting political winds. Citizenship, in their case, is not a guaranteed right but a tenuous and contingent status.
Fragmented Identity: The Crisis of National Belonging
American identity, once a relatively cohesive idea, has splintered in recent years. The cultural and political polarization that defines modern America has created distinct, often conflicting narratives about what it means to be a citizen. For some, being an American is about individual rights and economic success; for others, it is about collective responsibility and social justice. These competing visions are tearing at the fabric of the nation.
White Nationalism and the Reaction to Demographic Change
The rise of white nationalism and ethnic identity politics reflects a fear among some white Americans that they are losing their place in society. As the U.S. becomes more racially and culturally diverse, segments of the white population have responded by doubling down on exclusionary ideas of citizenship. Groups like the Proud Boys and movements like “America First” frame American identity in terms of race, religion, and traditional gender roles, pushing back against the pluralistic vision that has gradually taken shape since the 1960s.
This backlash is not simply about fear of demographic change. It represents a deeper anxiety about the perceived loss of control and status in a rapidly changing world. In this sense, white nationalism is not just a fringe movement but a reflection of a broader cultural crisis about what it means to be American in the 21st century.
Civic Disengagement and the Rise of Hyper-Individualism
At the same time, many Americans—particularly younger generations—are retreating into forms of hyper-individualism. Disillusioned with politics, distrustful of institutions, and overwhelmed by economic uncertainty, these citizens are turning inward, focusing on personal success and survival rather than collective action. In this sense, citizenship is increasingly seen as an individual endeavor, detached from any broader national project.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How does voter suppression impact American democracy?
Voter suppression refers to efforts to limit or prevent specific groups, often racial minorities and low-income individuals, from voting. This includes restrictive ID laws, purging voter rolls, and reducing polling places in certain areas. These tactics undermine the democratic process by ensuring that not all voices are heard equally.
2. Why is the middle class shrinking in the U.S.?
The middle class is shrinking due to factors such as wage stagnation, the decline of manufacturing jobs, the rise of automation, and increasing costs for housing, education, and healthcare. As economic inequality grows, fewer Americans can achieve the financial security that once defined middle-class
life.
3. How does mass incarceration affect Black Americans’ citizenship?
Mass incarceration disproportionately affects Black Americans, stripping them of their freedom and, in many cases, their voting rights. Once individuals have criminal records, they face barriers to employment, housing, and civic participation, creating a system where full citizenship is effectively denied.
4. What is the role of white nationalism in American politics today?
White nationalism has gained visibility in recent years as a reaction to demographic changes in the U.S. It advocates for a vision of American citizenship that is based on racial and cultural purity, rejecting the more inclusive, pluralistic ideals that have emerged since the Civil Rights Movement.
5. What is the impact of economic inequality on American citizenship?
Economic inequality erodes the promise of citizenship by making it difficult for lower-income Americans to access basic rights like healthcare, education, and housing. Without these essential services, participation in civic life is severely limited, leaving many feeling excluded from the benefits of citizenship.
6. How does immigration reform affect citizenship?
Immigration reform, or the lack thereof, directly impacts who can become a citizen. Programs like DACA and proposed pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants are politically contentious, and their outcomes affect millions of people living in legal limbo in the U.S.
Conclusion
American citizenship, far from being a simple status or set of rights, is a dynamic and contested concept. It is shaped by forces of power, economic inequality, race, and identity—each of which reveals the tensions between the nation’s ideals and its realities. Understanding citizenship in the U.S. requires acknowledging these contradictions and recognizing that the experience of being American varies dramatically depending on where one stands in this complex and often unequal system.
For some, the promises of citizenship are fulfilled; for others, they remain aspirational, denied by structures of power and exclusion. To move forward, America must confront these tensions and work towards a more inclusive, just, and equitable understanding of what it means to belong.
