This article confronts theoretical links between rights, citizenship and social protection, reviewing discourses on rights and citizenship and revealing fault‐lines and trade‐offs. Through the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP), Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) cases, it outlines the political conditions for the uptake of social policies. It reviews the scope of action of civil society, governments and donors and their impacts on the politics of accountability, attempting to outline a role for social protection as a means to inclusive and democratic citizenship.