Abstract (may include machine translation)
This chapter examines the impact of institutionalised racism in Romania and elsewhere in eastern Europe, with an emphasis on the so-called ‘Gypsy problem’ whereby Romani peoples continue to be vilified as a criminal subculture across Europe. It argues that the discrimination against the Roma is a testament to the internal colonialism prevalent both around and within the geopolitical concept of ‘eastern Europe’, as well as an example of postcolonial racism in which Romani peoples become subject to new forms of economic dependency. The chapter also considers the diffuse forces of power and how they operate within the ‘Roma rights’ movement in order to explain the existence of racialised hierarchies and neo-colonial dynamics. It first provides an overview of attempts to assimilate Romani communities in central Europe since the era of the Habsburg Empire's dual monarchy and its ‘civilising mission’. The chapter then analyses (neo-)colonialism, east European ‘backwardness’, and Romani emancipation, the hegemony of human rights entrepreneurs and the rise of neo-liberal agendas, and Romani subalterity in the non-governmental organisations.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Racism, Post-colonialism, Europe |
Editors | Graham Huggan, Ian Law |
Place of Publication | Liverpool |
Publisher | Liverpool University Press |
Pages | 50-74 |
Number of pages | 25 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781846315626 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781846312199 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2009 |