Naturalization Ceremonies

Project Lead

Team Members

Vince Hopkins, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Irene Bloemraad, Mireille Paquet, , Lisa Ruth Brunner, Taylor Jackson, , , , Nadezhda Zezyulina

Sub-Theme: Content of Citizenship

The sub-theme 'Content of Citizenship' explores through different projects the meaning of citizenship beyond a legal status, as the expression of a collective identity grounded in a shared sense of belonging to a particular national community.

Objective

This project examines how naturalization ceremonies, including those incorporating Advanced Digital Technologies (ADTs), influence new citizens鈥� perceptions of national identity. The study involves:

Analyzing discourse surrounding virtual ceremonies in Canadian news media and policy documents;
Administering a survey to naturalizing individuals, differentiating between ceremony types (in-person, remote, enhanced ceremonies, and those involving Indigenous elders);
Conducting elite interviews with citizenship judges and key actors responsible for ceremony development;
Exploring potential collaborations with organizations involved in naturalization ceremonies in Canada and comparator countries.

Research Questions

What is the impact of Canadian naturalization ceremonies on new citizens鈥� understanding of citizenship and national identity?
What is the affective impact of Canadian naturalization ceremonies? Do they enhance new citizens鈥� feelings of belonging?
Is there a differential impact depending on whether ceremonies are in person or virtual, if oaths are self-administered or not? If ceremonies include Indigenous elders?
How does this compare with other countries, such as Germany?

Methodology

The research project follows a mixed-methods approach, including: discourse analysis. in depth interviews, surveys, media analysis

Status

This project is currently in the Data Collection, Data Analysis and Writing phases.

Expected completion date: March 2026

Partners

Outcomes

Publications:

Triadafilopoulos, P., Banting, K., & Westlake, D. (2025). . Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.

Past events and presentations:

"Competing problematizations of virtual naturalization ceremonies", presented by Lisa Brunner, Carolina Reyes Marquez, and Nadezhda Zezyulina, CMS Research Conference 2025, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, May 1-2, 2025
鈥淒rivers of diversity: How Germany became more open鈥�, co-authored with Karen Sch枚nw盲lder, presented by Phil Triadafilopoulos, Workshop on Openness, Human Rights, and Equality in European Migration and Diversity 鈥� When and How They Have Been Advanced in European Migration Policies, G枚ttingen, Germany, May 2025
鈥淐ompeting problematizations of virtual naturalization ceremonies,鈥� presented by Lisa Brunner, Carolina Reyes Marquez, and Nadezhda Zezyulina, CMS Research Conference 2025, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, May 1-2, 2025
鈥淪eeing light in dark times: Karen Sch枚nw盲lder and the political sociology of migration and diversity鈥�, keynote address by Phil Triadafilopoulos, Conference on the Career of Karen Sch枚nw盲lder, Berlin, Germany, March 2025