The Roma in Europe - Debates on Comparative Analysis / Policy Strategy

There are approximately 6-10 million people in Europe who go under the broad label of Roma.  Approximately one-third of them live in enduring and transgenerational poverty. In the longue duree of modern European history, the Romany peoples have been the losers of modernity. In the past few years, the European Union has taken a growing interest in the plight of the largest European minority. In 2012 strategies for Romany integration are going to be presented by all national governments of the EU and all accession states. At the same time, Roma have become the target of a new form of populist hatred and exclusionary politics in countries as diverse as Italy and Hungary. We are, therefore, at a number of potential turning points in the history of Roma.

Overall, the training is designed to encourage students to engage with a broader intellectual field than that they may have encountered so far within their own doctoral or Master's program within a particular discipline. We believe it is impossible to teach coherently about Romany problems in any one country outside of a broader comparative and transnational perspective so we will select teachers and trainers from a wide pool. There is a growing demand for training and teaching in Romany studies across Europe and, consequently, for materials for such courses. ‘Romology’ is increasingly widely taught in schools and especially in the training institutes of teachers, the police, social workers, and other agencies of the state. One aim of the training will be to provide all the participants with the intellectual tools to take a critical look both at current practice and, through an examination of academic research, to consider what might replace current often rather poor or even bad practice.

Drawing upon the wide range of scholarship that has emerged in the past twenty-five years in Europe dealing with Romany populations from Anthropology, Demography, History, Linguistics, and Political Science, this summer school provides two types of training:

“The Roma in Europe - Comparative Analysis: a course for Ph.D. students” is aimed at doctoral students who seek an academic research career and will be largely run as a doctoral school focused on exploring the students’ work with the help and advice of senior staff.
“The Roma in Europe - Policy Strategy: A Course for Policy Experts” is intended for young scholars who wish to use their work in a policy, governmental, or NGO environment to promote better governance, education, health, and development. It will contain a mixture of formal teaching and training and student presentations.
Some events – including an electronic seminar in May, an optional pre-session week of training in film documentation (June 25-29), a field trip, and a special Francophone section – will be offered to both cohorts.

The one-week optional film session offers training in the use of digital equipment to document research and publicize campaigning work. It is recommended for students who wish to deploy a sound grasp of anthropological theory and method in relation to diverse fields of professional and policy-related practice, including governance, NGOs, health, education, environment, and development.

When applying for the summer school, applicants have the following options to choose from in the online application system:

Sub courses:

1. The Roma in Europe - Comparative Analysis: a course for Ph.D. students (2 weeks, July 9-20)
2. The Roma in Europe - Comparative Analysis: a course for Ph.D. students with training in film documentation (4 weeks, June 25-July 20)
3. The Roma in Europe - Policy Strategy: a course for policy experts (2 weeks, July 2-July 14, 2012)
4. The Roma in Europe - Policy Strategy: a course for policy experts with training in film documentation (3 weeks, June 25-July 14, 2012)

Please note that options 1-2 and 3-4 are the same course, but options 2 and 4 contain an additional component of training in film documentation preceding the course proper.

Participants will receive full funding (travel, accommodation, and living costs) covered by the Council of Europe and the European Commission.