Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrants

The Council of Europe definition of anti-Gypsyism focuses on the role of stereotypes and violent practices in the exclusion of the Roma. Research has shown that authorities have a tendency to embrace anti-Gypsyist attitudes and to implement overtly securitising policies that further entrench the exc...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Daniele Viktor Leggio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UNICApress 2017-07-01
Series:Anuac
Online Access:https://ojs.unica.it/index.php/anuac/article/view/2928
_version_ 1797724280880889856
author Daniele Viktor Leggio
author_facet Daniele Viktor Leggio
author_sort Daniele Viktor Leggio
collection DOAJ
description The Council of Europe definition of anti-Gypsyism focuses on the role of stereotypes and violent practices in the exclusion of the Roma. Research has shown that authorities have a tendency to embrace anti-Gypsyist attitudes and to implement overtly securitising policies that further entrench the exclusion of the Roma. Research has also shown that, besides established stereotypes, new ones are emerging. Drawing on our experience as observing participants in the development and implementation of Manchester City Council’s Roma Strategy, we will show how the strategy was aimed to prevent violent anti-Gypsyism, but how stereotypes nonetheless infiltrated its implementation and, finally, how the mobilisation of the Roma successfully challenged these stereotypes. The paper argues that current definitions of anti-Gypsyism are unable to capture instances of essentialist and pathologising discourses that inform interventions aiming at Roma inclusion but which may in fact perpetuate their marginalisation. The paper therefore challenges the notion that stereotypes only inform exclusionary or securitising interventions. The paper will show how academic research can be mobilised to dismiss stereotypes and to inspire the Roma to take action and challenge benevolent but nonetheless stereotyping interventions.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T10:15:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-b6277f9eb60d4bbcbe6970aef0698893
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2239-625X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T10:15:05Z
publishDate 2017-07-01
publisher UNICApress
record_format Article
series Anuac
spelling doaj.art-b6277f9eb60d4bbcbe6970aef06988932023-09-02T10:33:19ZengUNICApressAnuac2239-625X2017-07-016110.7340/anuac2239-625X-29282038Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrantsDaniele Viktor Leggio0University of Manchester, United StatesThe Council of Europe definition of anti-Gypsyism focuses on the role of stereotypes and violent practices in the exclusion of the Roma. Research has shown that authorities have a tendency to embrace anti-Gypsyist attitudes and to implement overtly securitising policies that further entrench the exclusion of the Roma. Research has also shown that, besides established stereotypes, new ones are emerging. Drawing on our experience as observing participants in the development and implementation of Manchester City Council’s Roma Strategy, we will show how the strategy was aimed to prevent violent anti-Gypsyism, but how stereotypes nonetheless infiltrated its implementation and, finally, how the mobilisation of the Roma successfully challenged these stereotypes. The paper argues that current definitions of anti-Gypsyism are unable to capture instances of essentialist and pathologising discourses that inform interventions aiming at Roma inclusion but which may in fact perpetuate their marginalisation. The paper therefore challenges the notion that stereotypes only inform exclusionary or securitising interventions. The paper will show how academic research can be mobilised to dismiss stereotypes and to inspire the Roma to take action and challenge benevolent but nonetheless stereotyping interventions.https://ojs.unica.it/index.php/anuac/article/view/2928
spellingShingle Daniele Viktor Leggio
Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrants
Anuac
title Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrants
title_full Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrants
title_fullStr Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrants
title_full_unstemmed Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrants
title_short Critiquing stereotypes: Research engagement with UK local authority supporting Roma migrants
title_sort critiquing stereotypes research engagement with uk local authority supporting roma migrants
url https://ojs.unica.it/index.php/anuac/article/view/2928
work_keys_str_mv AT danieleviktorleggio critiquingstereotypesresearchengagementwithuklocalauthoritysupportingromamigrants