Citizenship By Investment From A Biblical Perspective:

Introduction To Citizenship By Investment From A Biblical Perspective:

We're looking at Citizenship By Investment (CBI) from a biblical perspective. Essentially, In ancient Israel, the laws concerning land ownership, selling, and redemption were deeply rooted in the belief that all land ultimately belongs to God. 

The Israelites were considered "strangers and sojourners" with God, acting as stewards of the land He had given them (Leviticus 25:23). This foundational principle influenced all other regulations.

Readers might wonder if God's land laws to Israel apply to us. I believe that they do, because God owns the earth and assigned geographic regions to nations. God's land laws are designed for equity and we can benefit by obeying the fundamental principles in those laws.

Furthermore, the bible is the most ancient record of land laws that we know about. We see that these laws are designed for the well being and benefit of people born into nations. God's laws are fair and prevent injustice and mistreatment in land issues.

Types of Citizenship Acquisition:

Citizenship by birth (Jus Soli or Jure Soli):

This is typically granted to individuals born within the borders of a country. 

Citizenship by descent (Jus Sanguinis):

This is often granted to individuals who are born outside the country but have parents who are citizens of that country. 

Citizenship by naturalization:

This is a process where individuals who were not born as citizens can acquire citizenship through meeting specific requirements, such as residency, language proficiency, and a good moral character. 

Citizenship by marriage:

Some countries grant citizenship to individuals who marry citizens of that country. 

Dual or Multiple Citizenship:

This is when an individual holds citizenship in more than one country.

Honorary Citizenship:

This is a form of citizenship granted to individuals for their significant contributions to society or the country. 

Global Citizenship:

This refers to a sense of belonging to a global community and taking responsibility for global issues, rather than being solely defined by national citizenship. 

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs allow individuals to obtain a second citizenship by making a SUBSTANTIAL financial contribution to a country's economy. These programs offer a faster route to citizenship than traditional immigration methods. Beneficiaries receive access to visa-free travel, business opportunities, and other benefit. 

CBI is not about buying a passport. It's a privilege that is granted to worthy individuals who love a country and who want to improve its economic future. The question relates to the process and fundamental principles.

Based on the author's insight, CBI is essentially about land ownership and possessions in a territory. 

A Few Implications of CBI:

• Rich investors are able to buy prime land and other resources like beaches etc.
• Children of the soil are deprived of access  to their own resources - Canouan.
• Children of the soil work with these investors at a disadvantage - they have no shares in the  companies, no NIS is paid in in some instances, long hours of work etc.
• Natives of the soil lose access to prime property.

Here's a summary of the key biblical laws regarding landownership:

1. Land Ownership and Inheritance:

Divine Ownership: The primary principle is that God owns the land, and the Israelites were His tenants. This meant land could not be permanently alienated from the family or tribe to which it was originally allotted (Leviticus 25:23).

Tribal Allotment: Upon entering Canaan, the land was divided by lot among the twelve tribes, and then further subdivided among the families within each tribe (Numbers 26:52-54, Joshua 13-22). This initial distribution was considered a perpetual inheritance.

Patrilineal Inheritance: Generally, land passed from father to sons. The firstborn son typically received a double portion of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17).

Daughters' Inheritance: In cases where a man died without sons, his daughters could inherit his property, as demonstrated by the case of Zelophehad's daughters (Numbers 27:1-11). However, to prevent the transfer of tribal land, these heiresses were required to marry within their father's tribe (Numbers 36:6-9).

No Permanent Sale: Because the land belonged to God and was given as a perpetual inheritance, outright, permanent sale of land was forbidden. Any "sale" was essentially a lease until the next Jubilee Year.

2. Selling Land:

Temporary Lease: When land was "sold," it was actually a lease for a number of harvests, with the price adjusted according to the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee (Leviticus 25:15-16).

Economic Hardship: Sales of land typically occurred due to economic hardship, where a family was forced to sell part of their ancestral inheritance to survive.

Houses in Walled Cities: Houses within walled cities had a different rule. If not redeemed within one year of sale, they became the permanent property of the buyer and were not returned in the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25:29-30). Houses in unwalled villages, however, were treated like fields and subject to the Jubilee laws (Leviticus 25:31).

Levitical Property: Levites had special rules for their houses in the cities allotted to them. They always had the right to redeem their houses, and any sold Levitical houses would revert to them in the Jubilee, as these were their permanent possessions (Leviticus 25:32-33). Their pasturelands were never to be sold (Leviticus 25:34).

3. Redemption of Land:

Right of Redemption (Goel): If an Israelite was forced to sell their land, they (or a close relative) had the right to "redeem" or buy it back before the Jubilee year.

Self-Redemption: If the original owner became prosperous enough, they could buy back their land. The price would be calculated based on the remaining years until the Jubilee (Leviticus 25:26-27).

Kinsman-Redeemer (Goel): If the original owner could not afford to redeem their land, a close relative (kinsman-redeemer or "goel") had the right and responsibility to buy it back to keep the land within the family (Leviticus 25:25). The Book of Ruth provides a well-known example of this principle with Boaz acting as the kinsman-redeemer.

The Jubilee Year: This was a crucial institution for land redemption, occurring every **fiftieth year** (after seven cycles of seven sabbatical years).

Proclamation of Liberty: The Jubilee year was proclaimed on the Day of Atonement with the blowing of a ram's horn (Leviticus 25:8-10).

Return to Property: In the Jubilee year, all sold land was to be returned to its original family owners, regardless of whether it had been redeemed earlier. This ensured that ancestral inheritances were not permanently lost due to poverty (Leviticus 25:10, 13, 28).

Economic Reset: The Jubilee served as an economic reset, preventing the permanent accumulation of wealth and property in the hands of a few and ensuring that all families had access to their inherited land. It also involved the freeing of Israelite indentured servants (Leviticus 25:39-41).

These laws highlighted the communal and theological understanding of land in Israel, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty and providing a social safety net to prevent extreme poverty and the permanent disenfranchisement of families from their inherited land.

Solutions For Equitable CBI  as the legislation is already in place

God says LEASE THE LAND and do not sell it. Select a portion of crown land, rather than all, for these kinds of development projects. Protect the rights of children of the soil to own the land forever. 

Enact legislation to cover every detail of how a BI program is to be implemented. Examples of areas to be included:

• map a clear path to citizenship - like the USA.
• no passport sales.
• applicants must be of good character, pass background check, present an detailed investment plan.

• applicants must sign a contract in which they agree to reinvest finances and resources into national projects etc defined by the state.
• assign a department to CBI - implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• facilitate citizen reports of serious issues like law breaking, exploitation etc.

Historical warnings regarding land ownership issues

The history of land ownership across the globe is rife with examples of injustice, where indigenous populations and marginalized groups have been dispossessed of their ancestral lands by more powerful, often colonizing, entities. This systematic deprivation has had profound and enduring negative impacts, creating generational cycles of poverty, cultural loss, and social fragmentation for the descendants of those dispossessed.

Post - slavery citizenship by investment in the Caribbean 

Following the abolition of slavery in the British Caribbean in the 1830s, planters faced a severe labor shortage as newly freed Africans largely refused to continue working on the plantations under exploitative conditions.¹ To maintain their lucrative sugar industry, colonial authorities and planters devised a system of indentured labor, primarily recruiting workers from India, China, and later other parts of Asia. 

The rationale presented for this system was that these laborers were "voluntarily" migrating for economic opportunity, signing contracts (indentures) for a fixed period (typically five years) in exchange for passage, wages, and sometimes a return passage or small land grant at the end of their term.

 This narrative conveniently ignored the coercive recruitment practices, deceptive promises, and often brutal conditions that awaited the indentured workers, effectively creating a new form of semi-slavery designed to ensure a cheap and controlled labor supply for the plantations.

The implications of indentured labor were profound and long-lasting for the Caribbean. While it did prevent the immediate collapse of the sugar industry and introduced new cultural groups to the region, it also perpetuated a highly exploitative economic system. Indentured workers endured harsh living and working conditions, low wages, and often faced discrimination and violence, with limited legal recourse. 

For the descendants of these laborers, the legacy includes the formation of diverse multi-ethnic societies, but also persistent social hierarchies, economic marginalization, and the challenge of reclaiming ancestral histories obscured by the colonial narrative. 

The system also contributed to the ongoing struggle for land rights and economic independence, as many indentured workers were unable to return home or acquire sufficient land, leaving them in precarious economic positions and contributing to the enduring socio-economic disparities within Caribbean nations today.

Read Crown Land

The Dynamics of Dispossession: Power, Greed, and Ideology

The common thread running through these historical injustices is an imbalance of power, fueled by greed for resources and often justified by prevailing ideologies of racial or cultural superiority.

1. "Discovery" and Conquest (Post-Columbus Americas):

The Narrative: European powers, particularly Spain and later England, France, and others, operated under the doctrine of "discovery," asserting that lands not "owned" by Christians were open for claim. This disregarded the existing, sophisticated systems of land tenure and spiritual connection to the land held by indigenous peoples (e.g., the Taino, Aztec, Inca, and later numerous North American tribes).

Methods of Deprivation: This involved outright conquest through military force, the imposition of European legal systems that did not recognize indigenous rights, fraudulent treaties, and the devastating impact of introduced diseases that decimated native populations, making resistance more difficult.

Negative Impact on Descendants:

Loss of Livelihoods: Indigenous communities were pushed onto marginal lands, losing access to fertile hunting grounds, agricultural lands, and vital resources, leading to widespread poverty and food insecurity.

Cultural Erasure: Land was deeply intertwined with spiritual beliefs, oral traditions, and cultural practices. Its loss meant the erosion of identity, language, and traditional governance structures. Residential schools (like those in Canada and the U.S.) further aimed to "civilize" native children by severing their ties to land and culture.

Intergenerational Trauma: The historical trauma of violence, displacement, and cultural suppression continues to manifest in higher rates of poverty, substance abuse, mental health issues, and lower life expectancy within indigenous communities today.

        

Legal Disenfranchisement: Ongoing battles for land rights, treaty recognition, and self-determination persist, reflecting the lasting legal and political impacts of initial dispossession.

2.  British Colonization (e.g., India, Africa, and particularly Australia):

The Narrative: The British Empire, like other colonial powers, often justified its expansion through "civilizing missions" and the belief in the superiority of British law and agricultural practices. In many cases, lands deemed "unoccupied" (terra nullius) or "underutilized" by European standards were simply claimed.

Aboriginals of Australia: The concept of "terra nullius" was explicitly applied to Australia, despite the presence of Aboriginal peoples with deep, complex connections to the land for tens of thousands of years. Their hunter-gatherer lifestyle was not recognized as a valid form of land ownership by British law.

Methods of Deprivation: Land was unilaterally declared Crown land, parceled out to settlers for sheep farming, mining, and other ventures. Aboriginal people were dispossessed, often violently, confined to reserves, or forced into labor. The "Stolen Generations" policy forcibly removed Aboriginal children from their families, further severing cultural ties to land and kin.

Negative Impact on Descendants:

Extreme Disadvantage: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to face significant socio-economic disparities, including lower life expectancy, higher incarceration rates, and poorer health and education outcomes compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

Cultural Fragmentation: The loss of ancestral lands and the forced removal of children led to profound cultural disruption, including the loss of languages, ceremonies, and knowledge systems intrinsically linked to specific places.

Mental Health Crisis: High rates of intergenerational trauma, depression, and suicide reflect the lasting scars of dispossession and systemic discrimination.

Ongoing Land Rights Struggles The landmark Mabo decision in 1992 overturned "terra nullius," recognizing native title, but the process of claiming and proving native title remains complex and lengthy, highlighting the enduring impact of historical injustice.

3.  **Indentured Workers Post-Slavery and the Refusal to Compensate Former Slaves (United States):

The Promise and Its Betrayal: Following the American Civil War, the promise of "40 acres and a mule" was briefly floated (Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15), offering confiscated Confederate land to freed slaves. This was intended to provide an economic base and true freedom. However, this promise was largely unfulfilled.

Why Whites Refused to Pay/Compensate:

 Racial Ideology: Deep-seated racism and the belief in white superiority prevented many from accepting the idea of Black land ownership and economic independence, which threatened the existing racial hierarchy.

Economic Self-Interest: Southern landowners relied on cheap Black labor. Providing land to freed slaves would have destabilized the plantation economy by removing a subservient workforce and creating economic competitors.

Political Will: There was insufficient political will in Washington to enforce land redistribution, and President Andrew Johnson reversed many of the Reconstruction-era efforts, returning confiscated lands to former Confederates.

Systemic Barriers: Even without land, discriminatory laws (Black Codes, Jim Crow), violence (Ku Klux Klan), and economic exploitation (sharecropping, convict leasing) prevented Black people from accumulating wealth or securing land, even when they had the means.

Negative Impact on Descendants

Generational Poverty: The denial of land as a foundational asset trapped millions of Black Americans in cycles of poverty, sharecropping, and wage labor with little opportunity for upward mobility. This contributed directly to the vast racial wealth gap seen today.

Limited Economic Mobility: Without land, access to capital, education, and political power was severely restricted, hindering the ability of Black communities to build generational wealth and economic security.

        * **Urban Segregation and Redlining:** The lack of rural land ownership contributed to mass migrations to urban centers, where systemic housing discrimination (redlining) further restricted Black homeownership and wealth accumulation, pushing them into neglected neighborhoods.

        * **Persistent Racial Inequality:** The legacy of land denial is a key factor in understanding contemporary racial disparities in income, health, education, and incarceration rates, demonstrating how historical injustices perpetuate themselves across generations.

Conclusion

The historical deprivation of land from indigenous peoples and marginalized groups is not merely a past event; its reverberations are felt profoundly by their descendants today. These injustices have created deep structural inequalities, eroded cultural identities, and fostered intergenerational trauma. 

Addressing these legacies requires more than just acknowledging the past; it necessitates ongoing efforts towards land back movements, reparations, genuine reconciliation, and systemic changes that dismantle the lingering effects of colonial and discriminatory land ownership practices. The struggle for justice in land rights is central to achieving equity and healing historical wounds.