Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain

This article explores the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition by analyzing how migrants in Spain feel about becoming citizens. Our research shows that the subjective dimension of citizenship is embedded in a complex constellation of strategic choices and affective motivations that cannot...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: La Barbera, MariaCaterina, Finotelli, Claudia
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/387977
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/387977
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Citizenship regime
Naturalization
Migrants’ narratives
Affective citizenship
Strategic citizenship
Spain
Immigrants
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spelling Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in SpainLa Barbera, MariaCaterinaFinotelli, ClaudiaCitizenship regimeNaturalizationMigrants’ narrativesAffective citizenshipStrategic citizenshipSpainImmigrantsThis article explores the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition by analyzing how migrants in Spain feel about becoming citizens. Our research shows that the subjective dimension of citizenship is embedded in a complex constellation of strategic choices and affective motivations that cannot be analyzed in dichotomic terms. While migrants seek legal security, equal rights and better jobs, becoming citizens makes them feel more secure and increases their well-being. Moreover, citizenship acquisition has a performative effect that goes beyond just being accepted as members of the polity, and includes a sense of recognition and a sense of duty. Migrants’ narratives also show that expectations of social integration are countered by a persistent sense of otherness, especially in the case of racialized migrants. This article contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the subjective dimension of citizenship by unpacking the motivations, expectations, and affects of citizenship acquisition.Peer reviewedTaylor & FrancisMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)La Barbera, MariaCaterina [0000-0002-2065-6686]Finotelli, Claudia [0000-0001-9645-8662]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/387977reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020/PID2019-104706GB-I00https://doi.org/10.1080/13621025.2025.2475817Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/3879772026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
title Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
spellingShingle Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
La Barbera, MariaCaterina
Citizenship regime
Naturalization
Migrants’ narratives
Affective citizenship
Strategic citizenship
Spain
Immigrants
title_short Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
title_full Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
title_fullStr Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
title_full_unstemmed Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
title_sort Head or heart? Unpacking the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition: insights from migrants’ narratives in Spain
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv La Barbera, MariaCaterina
Finotelli, Claudia
author La Barbera, MariaCaterina
author_facet La Barbera, MariaCaterina
Finotelli, Claudia
author_role author
author2 Finotelli, Claudia
author2_role author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
La Barbera, MariaCaterina [0000-0002-2065-6686]
Finotelli, Claudia [0000-0001-9645-8662]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Citizenship regime
Naturalization
Migrants’ narratives
Affective citizenship
Strategic citizenship
Spain
Immigrants
topic Citizenship regime
Naturalization
Migrants’ narratives
Affective citizenship
Strategic citizenship
Spain
Immigrants
description This article explores the subjective dimension of citizenship acquisition by analyzing how migrants in Spain feel about becoming citizens. Our research shows that the subjective dimension of citizenship is embedded in a complex constellation of strategic choices and affective motivations that cannot be analyzed in dichotomic terms. While migrants seek legal security, equal rights and better jobs, becoming citizens makes them feel more secure and increases their well-being. Moreover, citizenship acquisition has a performative effect that goes beyond just being accepted as members of the polity, and includes a sense of recognition and a sense of duty. Migrants’ narratives also show that expectations of social integration are countered by a persistent sense of otherness, especially in the case of racialized migrants. This article contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the subjective dimension of citizenship by unpacking the motivations, expectations, and affects of citizenship acquisition.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/387977
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/387977
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020/PID2019-104706GB-I00
https://doi.org/10.1080/13621025.2025.2475817
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Taylor & Francis
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Taylor & Francis
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15.81155

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