Människovärde och medborgarskap : En studie över sambandet mellan ett upplevt människovärde och medborgarskapPorträtterat genom papperslösa

Sammanfattning: This study intends to concretize the concept of ”human dignity”, as well as see to its role inpolitics, and what consequences it has on juridical implementation. The discussion deals withthe importance of citizenship in Sweden. The purpose of the study is to focus onundocumented immigrants, their conditions and what implications a lack of citizenship has onthe group in question – ergo which connection actually exists between human dignity andcitizenship. Using the research questions it is discussed whether the concept of ”humandignity” is able to concretize, as well as if it possible to determine an ethical duty towardsundocumented immigrants based on the principle of human dignity.The essay is based on a social constructivist theory which, alongside a criticaldiscourse analysis in accordance with Faircloughs three-dimensional model, aims to theorise awell-discussed and established concept as well as power relations in society, and how acondition as an undocumented immigrant creates a new form of powerlessness. The methodproblematises the importance of citizenship for the experience of having human dignity.With this as the basis of the essay the result mainly shows the meaning of theconcept of ”human dignity” from ethical, political and legal perspectives, as well as therelation between the concept and citizenship. Thereafter the essay examines citizenship,partially from a general perspective but with its main focus on Sweden. Undocumentedimmigration serves as a counterpart to citizenship, which is concretised through an evaluationof the conditions of undocumented immigrants in Sweden at present. The analysis thatfollows aims to show that human rights are not the only fundamental thing for experiencingan intrinsic value, hence the discussion must go further, by showing that human dignity canserve as an adequate starting point to ensure a fundamental protection of individuals. This dueto the fact that the meaning of the concept goes further than claiming rights, and therebyshedding light to an additional nuance of the meaning of being human.3The conclusions that follow shows the problematics that the essay raises, butmoreover the possible areas for change or improvement that comes with the increasedresonance of the concept, as well as its established importance.