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Home is where the Home is where the hurt is:hurt is:

historical factors in the historical factors in the migration of eastern migration of eastern

European RomaEuropean Roma

Prof T.A.ActonProf T.A.Acton

Cardiff GRTHM 2013Cardiff GRTHM 2013

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A. Did it all start in 1989?A. Did it all start in 1989? 2222ndnd May 1989 May 1989 The EU Council of Ministers passes its most The EU Council of Ministers passes its most

radical ever resolutions in favour of Roma and radical ever resolutions in favour of Roma and Travellers.Travellers.

9 Nov 19899 Nov 1989Fall of the Berlin Fall of the Berlin WallWall

1994 report on 1989 1994 report on 1989 resolutions found lost resolutions found lost in a cupboard in in a cupboard in BrusselsBrussels

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But anyone working with Roma needs to go a bit But anyone working with Roma needs to go a bit further back than the resurgent racism post-1989 further back than the resurgent racism post-1989 to understand the sources of difference.to understand the sources of difference.

Because of the query “Is this behaviour Because of the query “Is this behaviour an individual pathology or a cultural an individual pathology or a cultural aberration?” Social workers make errors aberration?” Social workers make errors both ways: and because child protection both ways: and because child protection and other social service reports are and other social service reports are always confidential, building cumulative always confidential, building cumulative wisdom is hard. wisdom is hard.

So we compare the behaviour with a So we compare the behaviour with a series of narratives about cultural norms. series of narratives about cultural norms.

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BUTBUTBetween different groups the culture varies 100% - Between different groups the culture varies 100% - every generalisation is wrong. every generalisation is wrong.

ANDAND It is families who have problems who turn to social It is families who have problems who turn to social

workers and the policeworkers and the police SOSO Social worker and police and narratives are biased Social worker and police and narratives are biased

towards families in the process of dropping out of towards families in the process of dropping out of Romani Culture, and tend to reinforce negative Romani Culture, and tend to reinforce negative stereotypes. These sometimes conflict with idealisation stereotypes. These sometimes conflict with idealisation by educationalistsby educationalists

ANDAND Families who are self-reliant are even more likely to Families who are self-reliant are even more likely to

remain hidden from view. remain hidden from view.

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So – how do we approach the understanding So – how do we approach the understanding of culture? Through history.of culture? Through history.

Why did they migrate from India? Traditional Why did they migrate from India? Traditional explanation was they were pariah nomads who explanation was they were pariah nomads who wandered a bit furtherwandered a bit further, but why is a mystery, but why is a mystery. .

Challenged by Romani nationalism: We were warriors Challenged by Romani nationalism: We were warriors who adventured to Europe – who adventured to Europe – but why is a mystery.but why is a mystery.

The solution of historical revisionism “Mystery” is The solution of historical revisionism “Mystery” is unacceptable, even racist: any speculation must be unacceptable, even racist: any speculation must be sociologically plausible – as is the theory of a multi-sociologically plausible – as is the theory of a multi-cultural Indian militia in the service of Mahmud of cultural Indian militia in the service of Mahmud of Ghazni, with Romani language emerging from a Ghazni, with Romani language emerging from a military koine. military koine.

Social collectivities with some military-political Social collectivities with some military-political autonomy give rise to continuing identities in a way in autonomy give rise to continuing identities in a way in which individual migrants do not.which individual migrants do not.

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Diversity is only Diversity is only understandable historically understandable historically

What happens to the original Romani-speaking What happens to the original Romani-speaking collectivity?collectivity?

It accretes other Indic migrant populations.It accretes other Indic migrant populations. It loses any political autonomy by 1361 at the latestIt loses any political autonomy by 1361 at the latest Its component sections – metal workers, musicians, Its component sections – metal workers, musicians,

grooms, carpet specialists pursue their traditional non-grooms, carpet specialists pursue their traditional non-military survival strategies under other local feudal military survival strategies under other local feudal rulers. rulers.

It runs into the catastrophe of the 16th century It runs into the catastrophe of the 16th century W.European invention of the genocidal nation-state. W.European invention of the genocidal nation-state.

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How do Roma/Gypsies Travellers survive the How do Roma/Gypsies Travellers survive the 16th century catastrophe? 16th century catastrophe?

a) As slaves: (Christian Ottoman fringes, a) As slaves: (Christian Ottoman fringes, esp. Romania and Serbia)esp. Romania and Serbia)

b) As taxable communities (Ottoman b) As taxable communities (Ottoman heartlands, Poland, Russia, Baltic)heartlands, Poland, Russia, Baltic)

c) As marginalised commercial nomads c) As marginalised commercial nomads (N.Western Europe – but also in small (N.Western Europe – but also in small minorities combined with (1) and (2)minorities combined with (1) and (2)

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And then came industrial capitalism (and the And then came industrial capitalism (and the steam engine)steam engine)

From the late 19th century the From the late 19th century the ghetto/caravan marginalisation is no ghetto/caravan marginalisation is no longer acceptable:longer acceptable:

the 20th century genocides render the 20th century genocides render unviable the survival strategies from the unviable the survival strategies from the 16th century genocides: 16th century genocides:

post 1945 comes the new Gypsy politics, post 1945 comes the new Gypsy politics, gathering pace from the 1960s. gathering pace from the 1960s.

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But the Eighth World Romani Congress, But the Eighth World Romani Congress, in Sibiu is responding to a different in Sibiu is responding to a different situation.situation.

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What are the sources and dimensions of What are the sources and dimensions of Roma Gypsy Cultural Diversity today?Roma Gypsy Cultural Diversity today?

Tradition vs Consensus vs Personal Tradition vs Consensus vs Personal Autonomy in structures of social control Autonomy in structures of social control (related to Sedentarism vs Nomadism) (related to Sedentarism vs Nomadism) (So most Polish Roma have different (So most Polish Roma have different social control norms to most Romanian social control norms to most Romanian Roma – but there are crossovers – it Roma – but there are crossovers – it depends on sub-ethnic group, not depends on sub-ethnic group, not nationality as such )nationality as such )

European Regional OriginEuropean Regional Origin

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What are the sources and dimensions of What are the sources and dimensions of Roma Gypsy Cultural Diversity today? (2)Roma Gypsy Cultural Diversity today? (2)

Religion: Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, Religion: Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, (nominal Lutheran and Anglican), (nominal Lutheran and Anglican), Pentecostal, Jehovahs Witnesses. Pentecostal, Jehovahs Witnesses.

Education: The legacy of state Education: The legacy of state socialismsocialism

Language and DialectLanguage and Dialect Politics and ClassPolitics and Class

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““New Roma” since 1989New Roma” since 1989Some Communities: Some Communities: Bosnian ChergasheBosnian Chergashe Polska Roma and LovariPolska Roma and Lovari Kosovar Khorakhane + Albanian RomaKosovar Khorakhane + Albanian Roma Slovakian RomungreSlovakian Romungre Romanian RomaRomanian Roma Bulgarian Khorakhane/Arlija RomaBulgarian Khorakhane/Arlija Roma

““Old” Roma communities in UKOld” Roma communities in UK: : Kalderasha, Romungre, Cypriot Khorakhane, Kalderasha, Romungre, Cypriot Khorakhane, RudariRudari

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Some organisations:Some organisations: Slovak, Bulgarian and Romanian Roma Slovak, Bulgarian and Romanian Roma

organisations: Lobbying and civil liberties organisations: Lobbying and civil liberties approaches, often ephemeral/ and/or linked to approaches, often ephemeral/ and/or linked to church work.church work.

Roma Support Group: A casework + cultural politics Roma Support Group: A casework + cultural politics approachapproach

Church groups: Pentecostal self-help now linking Church groups: Pentecostal self-help now linking tentatively with the Churches Network, esp. in Lutontentatively with the Churches Network, esp. in Luton

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