Processes of Roma Integration, Roma nation- building and Dilemmas of Primordial Europe PhDr. Michal Vašečka, Ph.D. Institute for Public Affairs Bratislava

Roma intergration – the greatest challenge for Central European Countries in 21st century The issue of Roma integration is becoming one the greatest challenges for Central European countries in 21st century. The issue of Roma integration is becoming one the greatest challenges for Central European countries in 21st century. Interest in dealing with the issue peaked for the following three reasons during last few years: Interest in dealing with the issue peaked for the following three reasons during last few years: Morality and the importance of human rights: Some began to realize their obligation to help the Roma, and that inappropriate, misguided, or directly discriminatory methods and policies applied in the past should no longer be tolerated. Morality and the importance of human rights: Some began to realize their obligation to help the Roma, and that inappropriate, misguided, or directly discriminatory methods and policies applied in the past should no longer be tolerated. Integration and pragmatism: A significant number of decision makers understand the importance of finding ways to integrate Roma either because of increasing social cohesion or because of pragmatism deriving from EU and NATO integration. Integration and pragmatism: A significant number of decision makers understand the importance of finding ways to integrate Roma either because of increasing social cohesion or because of pragmatism deriving from EU and NATO integration. Self-defense: A considerable proportion of the majority population is admiting the necessity of solving the issue because of fears, which stem from Romany demographic developments. Self-defense: A considerable proportion of the majority population is admiting the necessity of solving the issue because of fears, which stem from Romany demographic developments.

Pre-1989 Policies Toward Roma in CSR Leading to Their Social Exclusion 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 the improvement of their social status. The change of 1989 has caught the Roma by surprise, the Roma population has not been prepared for these changes. 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 the improvement of their social status. The change of 1989 has caught the Roma by surprise, the Roma population has not been prepared for these changes. The communist regime counted on the assumption, that if there is an equalization of living standard of the Roma and the average living standard, the reason for the differences between them and the majority population will be eliminated. In order to achieve this, different measures have been employed: The communist regime counted on the assumption, that if there is an equalization of living standard of the Roma and the average living standard, the reason for the differences between them and the majority population will be eliminated. In order to achieve this, different measures have been 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 and industrial areas, The movement of the rural Roma population from Roma settlements to cities and industrial areas, The destruction of natural binding between the Roma community and the majority population, The destruction of natural binding between the Roma community and the majority population, Insensitive and administrative (forcible) allocation of flats to the Roma from socially disadvantaged environment, Insensitive and administrative (forcible) allocation of flats to the Roma from socially disadvantaged environment, Forced compliance with the general compulsory labor service, under the threat of imprisonment, Forced compliance with the general compulsory labor service, under the 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.