Processes of Roma Processes of Roma Integration, Roma nation-Integration, Roma nation-building and Dilemmas of building and Dilemmas of

Primordial EuropePrimordial Europe

PhDr. Michal Vašečka, Ph.D.PhDr. Michal Vašečka, Ph.D.

Institute for Public Affairs Institute for Public Affairs BratislavaBratislava

Roma intergration – the greatest challenge for Roma intergration – the greatest challenge for Central European Countries in 21st centuryCentral European Countries in 21st century

The The issue of issue of Roma Roma integration is becoming one the greatest integration is becoming one the greatest challenges for Central European countries in 21st century.challenges for Central European countries in 21st century.

Interest in dealing with the issue peaked for the following Interest in dealing with the issue peaked for the following three reasons during last few years:three reasons during last few years:

Morality and the importance of human rights:Morality and the importance of human rights: Some began Some began to realize their obligation to help the Roma, and that to realize their obligation to help the Roma, and that inappropriate, misguided, or directly discriminatory methods inappropriate, misguided, or directly discriminatory methods and policies applied in the past should no longer be and policies applied in the past should no longer be tolerated.tolerated.

Integration and pragmatism:Integration and pragmatism: A significant number of A significant number of decision makers decision makers understand the importance of finding understand the importance of finding ways ways to integrate Romato integrate Roma either because of increasing social either because of increasing social cohesion or because of pragmatism deriving from EU and cohesion or because of pragmatism deriving from EU and NATO integration.NATO integration.

Self-defense:Self-defense: A considerable proportion of the majority A considerable proportion of the majority population ispopulation is admit admitinging the necessity of solving the issue the necessity of solving the issue because of fears, which stem from Romany demographic because of fears, which stem from Romany demographic developmentsdevelopments..

Pre-1989 Policies Toward Roma in Pre-1989 Policies Toward Roma in CSRCSR

Leading to Their SocialLeading to Their Social ExclusionExclusion The majority of the Roma belonged to the lower layers of the society and they The majority of the Roma belonged to the lower layers of the society and they

were the targets of different experiments by the communist regime aimed at were the targets of different experiments by the communist regime aimed at the improvement of their social status. The change the improvement of their social status. The change of of 1989 has caught the 1989 has caught the Roma by surprise, the Roma population has Roma by surprise, the Roma population has not not been prepared for these been prepared for these changes. changes.

The communist regime counted on the assumption, that if there is an The communist regime counted on the assumption, that if there is an equalization of living standard of the Roma and the average living standard, equalization of living standard of the Roma and the average living standard, the reason for the differences between them and the majority population will the reason for the differences between them and the majority population will be eliminated. In order to achieve this, different measures have been be eliminated. In order to achieve this, different measures have been employed:employed:

The diffusion of the Roma, directed by the state, The diffusion of the Roma, directed by the state, The disintegration of natural Roma communities,The disintegration of natural Roma communities, The movement of the rural Roma population from Roma settlements to cities The movement of the rural Roma population from Roma settlements to cities

and industrial areas, and industrial areas, The destruction of natural binding between the Roma community and the The destruction of natural binding between the Roma community and the

majority population,majority population, Insensitive and administrative (forcible) allocation of flats to the Roma from Insensitive and administrative (forcible) allocation of flats to the Roma from

socially disadvantaged environment, socially disadvantaged environment, Forced compliance with the general compulsory labor service, under the Forced compliance with the general compulsory labor service, under the

threat of imprisonment,threat of imprisonment, Statutory enforced obligation of school attendance by children, Statutory enforced obligation of school attendance by children, Obligatory participation of the Roma on health prevention.Obligatory participation of the Roma on health prevention.