1. Roma identity in Eastern and Central Europe as a goal and problem
Filip Pospíšil
Opre Khetanes IV Concert and Conference on Romani (Gypsy) Musics and Cultures
April, 2016

2. Interacting discourses on Roma
Identity discourse
Minority rights, awareness raising, nation building, nurturing of traditions or difference, cultural or biological racism
Social inclusion/exlusion
at the EU, national and local levels
Un/deserving poor
at the global, national and local levels
Security and migration threat
at the local, national and global levels, Securitization

3. Roma „folklore“ at Ghettofest in Brno 2014, Foto Czech Radio

4. Participants of the Roma leadership program 2015 in the Czech Republic, Foto Slovo 21

5. Roma from Přednádraží Ostrava 2012, Foto Romea.cz

6. Factors of low self-identification
Ethnic diversity / subdivisions (differences in culture, language, caste system, ritual impurity)
Social stratification (Roma elites x “common Roma”)
Mistrust in the state and its agencies
Discrimination and prejudice
Distanciation from the “Bad” Roma

7. Aspects of identification
• The performed vs. the private aspects
• The instrumental vs. the felt aspects
The permanent vs. the temporary aspects
• The ascribed vs. the self-ascribed aspects

8. Variations of Roma identity
Acribed (ethnicity) - Gypsy/Roma
Ascribed (state nationality) - Czech
Language identity – Slovak, Hungarian
Self-ascribed (census nationality) – Moravian
Performed (cultural identity) – mainstream Czech
Performed (cultural identity) privately – Roma/Gypsy
Percieved (sexual identity) - Gay

9. Roma population – Czech Republic
Roma nationality
Roma + other nationality
Native Roma language
2001 Census
11,718
784
23,211
2011 Census
5,135
7,818
41,087
Minimum est.
 150,000
Maximum est.
 250,000
CoE estimate 2012
 200,000
Data on Census in the Czech republic according to the Czech Statistical Office.
Estimates of numbers of_Roma in Europe based on 2012document prepared by the Support Team of the Special Representative
of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Roma Issues.

10. HYPHENATED ROMA IDENTITY
Photo: František Kostlán, Romea

11. Risks of homogenic identification
European Commission guidance (2014): to qualify for EU funding national Roma integration strategies must include “strong monitoring methods to evaluate the impact of Roma integration actions and a review mechanism for the adaptation of the strategy.”
Further alienation between Roma and those in the society who will not be able to benefit from similar programs because they are not considered to be Roma.
Reinforcement of ascribed and essentialist framing of ethnic identity as well as negative stereotypes in relation to Gypsy or Roma culture.

12. Thank you