Unravelling inclusive food citizenship: insights from East-Central London

Citizenship, as a legal status and societal construct shaped by physical and political boundaries, forms the bedrock of relations between nation-states and their inhabitants. However, contemporary forms of citizenship are challenging this concept by disassociating it from nations and territories, and instead linking it to societal struggles. Grounded in the notion that food practices can embody citizenship beyond legal definitions, the study explores the concept of food citizenship and how communities navigate belonging and participation. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from contemporary Western citizenship studies, this paper suggests the concept of “inclusive food citizenship” as a transformative force in fostering inclusive civic engagement and rights-claims within food systems. This conceptualisation emphasises collective action, democratic processes and inclusivity, aiming to address criticisms of elitism and exclusion inherent in current food citizenship discourse. Through a case study of community food initiatives in East-Central London, the paper illustrates practical applications of inclusive food citizenship. Employing a multi-method approach including interviews, participant observation and focus groups, the study explores how these initiatives promote social cohesion, resilience and equitable food systems amid challenges like funding constraints and limited governmental support. Ultimately, this research underscores the potential for food and other forms of citizenship to transcend legal and geographical boundaries, offering insights into fostering inclusive communities and addressing social injustices. It calls for ongoing dialogue and critical reflection to refine theoretical frameworks and advance practical models that uphold principles of justice, equity and sustainability in food governance and beyond. • Food citizenship emerges as a lens for exploring identity and civic engagement. • Alternative forms of citizenship transcend legal and geographical boundaries. • Food citizenship promotes inclusive communities and addresses social injustices. • Community food initiatives serve as democratic platforms for collective agency. • Community initiatives balance tackling food insecurity with broader democratic role.