Travaux d'Urbarom - Colloques
The « Roma Issue » in Europe Today. Contentious Politics and the Formation of a So-Called “Public Problem” : Workshop 3
Written by Ludovic Lepeltier
11 June 2011
The Formation of a European « Roma Issue »
Over the past few years, Roma have been more and more present in the discourses and discussions within European institutions. This last workshop has been organized in two sessions. Firstly, we propose to examine the building process of the “Roma Issue” at the European level (actors, administrative and juridical categories), the different mechanisms of representation and participation of the groups referred to as Roma/Gypsies in the national arenas and at the European level, and the emerging forms of Control over migrants and mobilities. Lectures and comments will lead us to pose ourselves questions about the evolution of the statuses of “citizen” and “foreigner” in the EU as well as its member states. Secondly, we will focus on the place of the Roma associations in the shaping of the “Roma Issue” at the different levels. In fact, if they are the target of policies, institutional discourses and media, Roma don’t remain passive. In particular, the associations have to be regarded as actors of the “Roma Issue”, as well as public authorities, media and other organizations of the civil society (humanitarian NGOs for instance). That is the reason why we propose, within the last panel, to exchange insights from researchers and Roma activists. Reflections will deal with three themes : 1) Roma associations and the designation of the “target groups”; 2) Roma associations : actors and political strategies; 3) Roma associations, researchers and the European policy for Roma inclusion.
The « Roma Issue » in Europe Today. Contentious Politics and the Formation of a So-Called “Public Problem” : Workshop 2
Written by Ludovic Lepeltier
11 June 2011
Formation and Evolution of Policy Categories
The day-to-day formation of public policy is a key stage in the process of categorization (in this case concerning the people and groups referred to as Roma/Gypsy). During this workshop, the comments deal with the categories reshaped by policy, the circumstances of their development (contexts, frames of reference), as well as with the effects of this never-ending labeling process on the manufacturing of individual and collective identities. A first series of contributions focuses on current processes (Spain, France, Italy, Kosovo). A second series deals with the analysis of processes over the long term (Sweden, Italy). By way of conclusion, the last contribution constitutes a counterpoint to the previous comments by focusing on the labeling process during the implementation of reception and schooling policies for the “Gens du voyage” in France.
The « Roma Issue » in Europe Today. Contentious Politics and the Formation of a So-Called “Public Problem” : Workshop 1
Written by Ludovic Lepeltier
11 June 2011
The « Roma Issue » at the Local Level: Genesis, Categories and Controversies
Recently, the public authorities and organizations of the so-called “civil society” have put the spotlight on the European dimension of the “Roma Issue”. However, from the point of view of mainstream society and its institutions, it is at the local level that the presence of the so-called Roma/Gypsy groups first poses a problem. Based on six case studies in French cities (Parisian suburbs, Montpellier), in Italy (Roma, Pescara), and in Kosovo (Mitrovica), this workshop aims at identifying convergences or divergences in the formation of the “Roma Issue”: shall we consider the latter as a spatial issue which is linked to the presence of poor housing (or housing which differs from the prevailing norms and conventions) and/or is linked to the survival activities? Which lead to rejection or, on the contrary, to empathy? What are the effects of the juridical and administrative contexts (at the national level) and local contexts on the configuration of the “Roma Issue” within European towns? What are the effects of debates and controversies about the “Roma Issue” on the structuring of the political arenas? How do the target groups react when being faced to this situation?
The « Roma Issue » in Europe Today. Contentious Politics and the Formation of a So-Called “Public Problem” : Call for Papers
Written by Ludovic Lepeltier
30 May 2011
In Central Europe as well as in the Balkans, the Roma have seen their life conditions deeply transformed in the nineties by the break up of the socialist system and during the last decade by the enlargement of EU. The precariousness and the marginalization of a lot of families, the development of mobility towards Western Europe, where migrants often live at the margins of the cities, as well as the access to European citizenship are parts of these effective changes. The precariousness of Roma groups is often considered “public problem” as defined by Gusfield: “a state of fact which constitutes itself a stake of reflection and protest and a target for public policies”. On one hand the public discourse on Roma has increased. Institutions, non profit organizations, academicians and common citizens talk about them. On the other hand public authorities have enacted national or local policies which oscillate between rejection and inclusion.
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