The East European gypsies

About This Book

"This book is the first attempt by a social scientist to explain the age-old predicament of Gypsies (or Roma), Eastern Europe's largest ethnic minority, and their relationship to the region's states and societies. Professor Barany comparatively examines the Gypsies' socioeconomic and political marginality and policies toward them through seven centuries and in seven East European states. He illuminates the reasons why the Roma have consistently occupied the bottom of social, economic, and political hierarchies regardless of historical period or geographic location. Barany argues that the current nostalgia of many Gypsies for the socialist period is easy to understand, given the disastrous effect of the postcommunist socioeconomic transformation on the Roma's conditions over the last decade. He explains the impact of Gypsy political mobilization and the activities of international organizations and NGOs on government policies. This pioneering multidisciplinary work will engage political scientists, sociologists, and historians as well as students of ethnic and racial studies."--Jacket.