Will Guy (ed) Between Past and Future: the Roma of Central and Eastern Europe (2001)

Zoltan Barany The East European Gypsies. Regime Change, Marginality, and Ethnopolitics (2002)

The Czech lands and Slovakia: another false dawn? Pre- communist policy differences (nomadism vs sedentarisation, WW2nd, etc) Communism 1989 – – present Fulfilment of the Charter 77 prophecy

Communism Enforced + voluntary relocation to Sudetenlands from Slovak shanty-town settlements (after removal of Germans 1945) Large scale employment (low status jobs), decayed urban areas 1958 policy of integration (USSR model), population dispersal, law on settlement of nomads 1965 policy on transfer (from Sk) + dispersal 68 federalisation; Association of Gypsies-Roma (73) 1978 Charter 77 Information on situation of Gypsies-Roma quotation p „prophecy“ p. 293

Charter 77 Document 23 about the situation of Gypsies-Roma in Cz Denial of national minority status to R. „was dictated by teh desire of the ruling powers to reduce the size of the minority problem“ Criticism of sterilisation, housing + educational segragation, use of 58 law – branded as „racist repression“ Challenged teh government claim to have integrated Roma into labour force (perpetuating disadvantaged position) Warning about vulnerability of Roma workers when economy modernises p.293

ROI (Romani Civic Initiative) a part of OF (Civic Forum) Roma gained status as a national minority, Romani MPs Bogardus scale of social distance – high hostitily Beauty Queen racist utterence (Stewart 1997) Racist attacks (1995 longer sentences, racism in police force) Unemployment (70 % vs national 5%- Bratinaka 97); stereotype of self chosen unemployment Criminality (20% vs national 3%) – criminalisation, abused by Republicans (Sládek) Citizenship law 93, 96, 2000; led to 97 exodus Housing ghetoisation (bare flats), educational segregation,

present 97 Bratinka report on situation of R. community in Cz Inter-departmental commission for Romani affairs 98 social democrats in government Framework convention April 99 Draft Concept of Roma integration, approved in June 2000 „Conflict-free co-existence of the R. community with the remainder of society“ Safety, non-discrimination, improving social sit (employment, housing, health) Equalising measures, no quota

Future visions Fulfilling the grim Charter 77 prophecy? EU entry impact Double standards cf. Canada vs UK asylum applicant success rate IRU stabilisation policies Prevent mass unemployment + dependency on social support Prejudice, racism, hostility, discrimination, social situation (edu., empl., housing, health…)