This paper deals with the use of nationalism and citizenship as a political resource in Hungary, Russia and Turkey, i.e. states that can be labelled as illiberal democracies. Special interest is invested in the different types of practices (use, misuse, abuse) linked with citizenships and nationalism. Questions on nationalism and citizenship have an important role in the present-day politics in Europe as they deal very deeply with states, borders, territories, and accordingly intensify questions of identity, belonging and loyalty. Therefore, use of citizenship for power-political purposes is a phenomenon that should not be underestimated. This is evident in the East Central Europe, where a state might offer citizenship for a minority group in neighboring states, but at the same time opposes the extension of citizenship of those same states, when it is directed towards a minority group inside itself. Here citizenship is understood, not as a right of an individual, but as an instrument in power-politics inside and between states, as a means of gaining or maintaining power or other political interests, or even as form of waging war.
