The « Roma Issue » in Europe Today. Contentious Politics and the Formation of a So-Called “Public Problem” : Call for Papers

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.

Call for Papers

Scientific coordination :

• Olivier Legros, Assistant Professor, Université de Tours, CITERES)
• Jean Rossetto, Professor, Université de tours, GERCIE 

Scientific Committee :

Loïc Blondiaux (Professor, Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne), Catherine Coquio (Professor, University of Poitiers), Jean-Pierre Massias (Professor, University of Pau), Patrice Melé (Professor, University of Tours), Judith Okely (Professor, University of Hull), Tommaso Vitale (Assistant Professor, University of Milano-Bicocca)

Background

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.

Goals

This conference aims to analyze the conditions of development of the “Roma issue” in Europe today. Better to talk about “Roma issues” because, as other public problems, they are situated social constructions - e.g created by discourse, law and policy – that ask to be compared in a historical perspective. Moreover, a multidisciplinary approach is urgent because of the numerous facets of the “Roma issue(s)”. That’s the reason why we have decided, for this first conference of the Urba-Rom European Network, to bring together anthropological, juridical, geographical, sociological and historical approaches. Proposals could be part of the following three themes.

Themes

The “Roma issue(s)” at the local level: genesis, categories and controversies

Analysis can focus on current processes and registers of categorization, as well as on the functioning of local public spheres. Papers examining genesis’s condition of the “Roma issue” are welcomed too. Is mainly a spatial problem, linked to the presence of illegal settlements and/or survival activities, which supports reactions of rejection (or of sympathy)?

Shaping and development of the categories of public policy

The categorization of beneficiaries and public policies is a constant in European countries. The “insertion villages for Roma”, in France, or the “nomad camps”, in Italy, prove that categorization is a current manner for institutions to react. How do institutions build these very specific categories? Do the current policies determine the construction of new categories? Papers which combine an historical approach with others are very welcome.

The genesis of a “Roma issue” at the European level

In which conditions does the “Roma issue” appear at the European level? What part do European agencies and other civil society organizations play in this process? On which categories the EU policy for the Roma is based? In a law perspective, the Roma issue is linked to the question of the dichotomy foreigner/citizen and of the status and rights of minorities in EU as well as in each member Country. The analysis of the Canadian case could be a relevant counterpoint for a comparison with the construction of the European law.

Proposals could be written in French or in English. They can focus national or migrant Roma and other “gypsy” groups. Some papers can also deal with other marginalized groups or minorities (mainly in Europe but also outside) in order to enlarge the field of comparison.

The deadline for sending the titles and abstracts (600 words max.) to Olivier Legros ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and Jean Rossetto ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is September the 15th 2010. Proposals will be evaluated by the scientific committee of the conference. The decision of the committee will be notified to the authors by October 2010.

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