Changes in Demography and Resulting Changes in Citizenship Law: The Case Study of Luxembourg

The vast majority of democratic theory assumes the need for widespread political participation. The right to vote constitutes the most essential political right but in the era of migration the idea of universal suffrage is far from being realized.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg within its current borders is the result of 19th century diplomacy. In the space of less than 150 years the population of this state more than doubled - largely attributable to immigration. Today, 48% of the population are foreigners. The history of the creation of the Grand Duchy and the Law on Luxembourg Nationality are closely intertwined – the latter having undergone several changes – reflecting historic circumstances. The evolution of the Law on Luxembourgish Nationality and the discussions around “what constitutes a Luxembourger” illustrate the changes in perception of “Luxembourg nationality”. The underlying fundamental question is whether naturalization is the mid – or endpoint of successful integration into the host society.
In this paper we will outline the different phases of the Luxembourg Law on Nationality, starting with the period of the French civil Code and ending with the current amendments of the naturalization law.
This paper reflects the relation between migration and changes in the naturalization law in Luxembourg. The authors show how successive Luxembourgish governments have accommodated citizenship rights of foreign nationals, but are constrained by political groups defending national preferences. Overall, Luxembourg can be described as an immigration success story, facing the future challenge of accommodating all groups living in Luxembourg.