Tracing the demand- and supply-side of citizenship in Moldova during undulations of democracy

Since independence, Moldova has experienced political turbulence with cycles of democratisation and democratic backsliding. Amid this turbulence, Moldova's citizenship regime has remained relatively stable and resistant to change. Three main changes have occurred to Moldova's citizenship regime in the last 25 years: the introduction and backlash against dual citizenship, the introduction and revocation of citizenship by investment (CBI), and the strengthening of presidential powers regarding loss of citizenship. This article interrogates the connection between democratisation, democratic backsliding, and citizenship regimes by exploring whether these changes to Moldovan citizenship might be explained by democratisation, or whether state- and nation-building might explain such changes. The article finds that while democratising regimes rarely touch Moldovan citizenship policy, backsliding regimes are more inclined to politicise citizenship by using citizenship as an instrument of contention to wield power.