The Gypsies and the Balkans States

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

8 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

05/08/2009

Category :

History & geography

Sub category :

Modern history

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Summary :

Introduction
The situation of the Gypsies as a political problem
1. The socio-economic situation of the Gypsies
2. The Gypsies and social order
3. Political actors and the emergence of the political problem
State policies toward the Gypsies
1. An historical background
2. The actors and institutions of the public policies
3. The contents of the policies
The Roma and the wars in former Yugoslavia
1. The Gypsies in Bosnia-Herzegovina
2. The Roma and the war in Kosovo

Abstract

The gypsies are now recognized to have originated from northern India and to have arrived in Europe around the 14th century. This deprives the gypsies of an historical homeland and a state able to protect their rights, even outside its borders. Moreover, their immigration in several waves created a scattered community, with a weak common consciousness and few solidarity ties between the different groups, "based on linguistic, historical and occupational distinctions". Other dividing lines exist between the gypsies, such as religion (Hindu, Muslim or Christian) even if "their attachment to established religions appears to have been a matter of convenience rather than conviction" , lifestyle (nomadic or sedentary), belonging to different tribes and countries. It is said, too, that another source of diversity is the fact that non-gypsy and quite often marginalized nomadic groups joined the gypsies in their centuries-long trip from India or adopted their lifestyle in Europe and were thus de facto integrated into the Roma group by Western observers.