Public Opinion and the Public Opinion and the RomaRoma

A qualitative research A qualitative research studystudy

Nick van PraagNick van Praag

World BankWorld Bank

November 18, 2005November 18, 2005

MethodologyMethodology

Focus groups in all Decade countriesFocus groups in all Decade countries

– 8 focus groups in 7 of 8 countries (5 non-Roma, 3 8 focus groups in 7 of 8 countries (5 non-Roma, 3 Roma) Roma)

– 10 in Serbia and Montenegro (6 non-Roma, 4 10 in Serbia and Montenegro (6 non-Roma, 4 Roma)Roma)

Issues exploredIssues explored

– Critical issues facing their country and communitiesCritical issues facing their country and communities– The Roma (perception vs. reality, experience with The Roma (perception vs. reality, experience with

and exposure to) and exposure to) – Messages/statements about efforts to support the Messages/statements about efforts to support the

RomaRoma– Similar themes explored in Roma focus groupsSimilar themes explored in Roma focus groups

Goals and a CaveatGoals and a Caveat

Change prejudicial attitudes, win support for Change prejudicial attitudes, win support for Decade programsDecade programs

Understand drivers of non-Roma attitudes, Understand drivers of non-Roma attitudes, prejudice prejudice

Roma attitudes also key to design, target Roma attitudes also key to design, target efforts efforts

Caveat: Focus groups can’t tell whole storyCaveat: Focus groups can’t tell whole story Qualitative phase followed by quant. pollQualitative phase followed by quant. poll

The landscapeThe landscape

Overwhelming pessimism expressed in Overwhelming pessimism expressed in all countries – Roma and non-Romaall countries – Roma and non-Roma

““I follow what’s going on and the situation I follow what’s going on and the situation makes you want to cry.”makes you want to cry.”

Jobs are on the minds of everyone – Jobs are on the minds of everyone – particularly the youngparticularly the young..

““My sister’s boyfriend is a university My sister’s boyfriend is a university graduate and now he’s a fish packer at the graduate and now he’s a fish packer at the local supermarket.”local supermarket.”

The landscapeThe landscape

Roma and non-Roma hold government Roma and non-Roma hold government responsible for problemsresponsible for problems

Authorities see as corrupt, incompetent, Authorities see as corrupt, incompetent, and ineffectiveand ineffective

““Politicians put their own interests first – Politicians put their own interests first – not those of the public.”not those of the public.”

Roma see bias in national, local mediaRoma see bias in national, local media Skepticism about EUSkepticism about EU Less respect for traditional values of Less respect for traditional values of

tolerance, adaptability tolerance, adaptability

Attitudes toward the RomaAttitudes toward the Roma Views of the Roma are steeped in disdainViews of the Roma are steeped in disdain People attribute their views to everyday negative People attribute their views to everyday negative

experiences, deny prejudiceexperiences, deny prejudice Roma seen as responsible for their conditionRoma seen as responsible for their condition Roma live in poverty because they choose to do Roma live in poverty because they choose to do

soso “ “We treat Gypsies the way they treat us and, all We treat Gypsies the way they treat us and, all

things considered, I think we treat them pretty things considered, I think we treat them pretty well.”well.”

‘‘Integration’ implies assimilation, with Roma Integration’ implies assimilation, with Roma adjusting their values, behaviors (culture okay)adjusting their values, behaviors (culture okay)

Age and familiarity not reliable predicator of Age and familiarity not reliable predicator of attitudesattitudes

Roma viewsRoma views

Roma point to centuries of discrimination, Roma point to centuries of discrimination, humiliation and inequitieshumiliation and inequities

Acknowledge role of some Roma in reinforcing Acknowledge role of some Roma in reinforcing stereotypesstereotypes

See selves as complex, heterogeneousSee selves as complex, heterogeneous Resist full assimilationResist full assimilation Blame government, need government, but Blame government, need government, but

suspicious of governmentsuspicious of government Fear public backlash from positive Fear public backlash from positive

discriminationdiscrimination See vacuum of leadership in Roma community See vacuum of leadership in Roma community

Attitudes toward changeAttitudes toward change

All sides say integration would to benefit of allAll sides say integration would to benefit of all Roma say they want to live in non-Roma Roma say they want to live in non-Roma

neighborhoods, send children to integrated neighborhoods, send children to integrated schoolsschools

Non-Roma say favor integration but many Non-Roma say favor integration but many reject concrete sharing buildings, integrated reject concrete sharing buildings, integrated schools etc.schools etc.

Majorities of non-Roma say Roma want to Majorities of non-Roma say Roma want to remain segregated remain segregated ““The present situation suits them just as it is.”The present situation suits them just as it is.”

Non-Roma say Roma must take the initiative to Non-Roma say Roma must take the initiative to assimilateassimilate

Attitudes toward changeAttitudes toward change

Virtually no support for Roma receiving Virtually no support for Roma receiving additional support from the governmentadditional support from the government

Non-Roma believe that singling out the Roma Non-Roma believe that singling out the Roma for special help is not fair when so many for special help is not fair when so many people are without jobs, lack money people are without jobs, lack money ““Why should I take responsibility for Roma if I Why should I take responsibility for Roma if I can’t improve my own life first?”can’t improve my own life first?”

Roma fear that preferential treatment will Roma fear that preferential treatment will backfire and engender more disdain for their backfire and engender more disdain for their communitycommunity““We should be helped, yes, but not more We should be helped, yes, but not more than other people with similar needs.”than other people with similar needs.”

Awareness of DecadeAwareness of Decade

Roma and non-Roma mainly unaware of Roma and non-Roma mainly unaware of DecadeDecade

But, majorities of both Roma and Non-But, majorities of both Roma and Non-Roma support Decade concept if explainedRoma support Decade concept if explained

Most feel benefits should not be restricted Most feel benefits should not be restricted to Romato Roma

Preferential services for Roma seen as Preferential services for Roma seen as likely to exacerbate tensionslikely to exacerbate tensions

Citizens are sensitive about costs of Citizens are sensitive about costs of Decade programsDecade programs

ChallengesChallenges

Citizens are pessimistic and distrust national Citizens are pessimistic and distrust national leaders leaders

Efforts promoted by government alone, or Efforts promoted by government alone, or outsiders likely to be met with skepticismoutsiders likely to be met with skepticism

Inter-communal suspicion, distrust prevail Inter-communal suspicion, distrust prevail Non-Roma speak of the importance of Non-Roma speak of the importance of

integration but do not embrace itintegration but do not embrace it Many see as unfair programs designed to Many see as unfair programs designed to

benefit only Roma benefit only Roma Roma are skeptical of their leadershipRoma are skeptical of their leadership

Messages for changeMessages for change

Messages suggesting guilt or sense of Messages suggesting guilt or sense of responsibility have little traction responsibility have little traction

Messages tied to ‘modern country’ or Messages tied to ‘modern country’ or ‘part of Europe’ provoke defensiveness‘part of Europe’ provoke defensiveness

Messages that have some resonance:Messages that have some resonance:

– Education is the key to moving all people out of Education is the key to moving all people out of poverty poverty

-- Roma children deserve the chance to prosper Roma children deserve the chance to prosper – Everyone deserves opportunity to share in prosperityEveryone deserves opportunity to share in prosperity– Discrimination against anyone is intolerableDiscrimination against anyone is intolerable

Next stepsNext steps

Field quantitative survey in early Field quantitative survey in early 2006 in all Decade countries2006 in all Decade countries

Poll will provide benchmark and Poll will provide benchmark and validate qualitative findingsvalidate qualitative findings

Track findings over timeTrack findings over time Summary of qualitative and country Summary of qualitative and country

specific reports available on webspecific reports available on web