Nils Witte explores Turkish migrants' destigmatization strategies and investigates their legal
and symbolic motives for naturalisation. Using mixed methods and unique data the author shows
that Turkish migrants' inclination to naturalise would be stronger if they were allowed to
retain their former citizenship and if they were recognized as symbolic members of German
society. Minority members enjoy expansive rights as permanent residents and many are entitled
to hold German citizenship. However they often experience symbolic exclusion making symbolic
membership a rare motive for naturalisation.
