KMAN Publication Incorporation Interdisciplinary Studies in Society, Law, and Politics 3060-5687 4 Serial Number 15 2025 10 01 The Legal Construction of Nationalism: Citizenship Policies and Identity Politics in Eastern Europe The Legal Construction of Nationalism: Citizenship Policies and Identity Politics in Eastern Europe 1 11 10.61838/kman.isslp.4.4.28 EN Journal Article 2025 03 30 <p>This article explores how citizenship laws in Eastern Europe are employed as legal instruments to construct and reinforce nationalist ideologies and identity politics. Using a narrative review methodology with a descriptive analytical approach, this study examines legal documents, policy reports, and scholarly literature published between 2020 and 2024. Selected countries include Hungary, Poland, Romania, Latvia, and Estonia, offering diverse case studies on legal nationalism and citizenship regimes. The review reveals that citizenship laws across Eastern Europe are predominantly shaped by ethnic nationalism, with a strong reliance on jus sanguinis principles. Legal mechanisms are used to institutionalize ethnic majorities while systematically excluding minorities through restrictive naturalization policies, language requirements, and diaspora-focused repatriation laws. Populist political movements further entrench these exclusionary frameworks, while European legal institutions struggle to enforce more inclusive standards. Courts at both national and supranational levels play a variable role in either reinforcing or moderating identity-based legal norms. Citizenship laws in Eastern Europe function as central tools in legal nationalism, reinforcing ethno-centric visions of the nation-state. Despite the influence of European integration, exclusionary legal practices persist, posing challenges to democratic inclusivity and minority rights. Reimagining citizenship through pluralistic legal reforms will be essential for fostering regional stability and inclusive national identities.</p> Citizenship law legal nationalism identity politics Eastern Europe ethnic majority minority exclusion populism European integration dual citizenship statelessness https://journalisslp.com/index.php/isslp/article/download/453/879