Martijn Koster (University of Utrecht)
Identity papers: differentiated citizenship, fear and
personal connections in Recife, Brazil
In Brazil, citizenship is differentiated on the basis of a person’s position, in design, execution and experience. This study shows how slum dwellers in Recife experience the obtrusive workings of the state designed project of registered citizenship, materialised in the identity card. They fear being violently approached by the police as potential criminals or being made non-existent if unable to show a “clean” card. It also shows how these slum dwellers, instead of striving for (formal or substantive) citizenship, want to be recognised as persons. To achieve this, they turn to the project of registered citizenship, employing it as a means to establish personal connections.
