Romani Politics in Contemporary Europe

18 March 18 2010, 3:00-5:00pm

Council Room
UCL School of Public Policy
Rubin Building, 29/30 Tavistock Square
London WC1 9HQ

This event is a panel discussion to mark the publication of a new edited volume on Romani Politics in Contemporary Europe: Poverty, Ethnic Mobilization, and the Neoliberal Order (Palgrave 2010). Edited by N. Sigona and N. Trehan, the book covers experiences of political participation of Romani citizens in both Eastern and Western Europe, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the political space that Roma occupy in states within an enlarged EU.

Contributing speakers include Dr. Nidhi Trehan and Dr. Will Guy (tbc, Bristol).
Prof. Richard Bellamy (UCL) and Dr. Martin Kovats (Birkbeck) will be discussants at a panel discussion chaired by Dr. Sherrill Stroschein (UCL).

Europe in the last two decades has gone through unprecedented political, social, and  eonomic transformations. The restructuring of post-WWII welfare systems, the disintegration of Yugoslavia through a series of fratricidal wars, the rise of racist and nationalist movements, and the enlargement of NATO and of the EU to include former socialist countries after the end of the Cold War characterize this period. The new geopolitical order has affirmed a neo-liberal economic doctrine throughout Europe. A by-product of this phenomenon has been increasing marginalization of groups which do not 'fit' the new socio-economic regime. Amongst them are millions of Roma, for whom chronic unemployment and social exclusion have become the norm. As a response to their increasing social marginalization, human and minority rights discourses and regimes have emerged, consolidating alongside an embryonic Romani political movement.

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