Opré Roma! Self-determination and creation of national identity seen as a civilization challenge of the last nomads of Europe

Abstract

The Roma – Europe's largest ethnic minority – number around 12 million people, scattered across all countries on the continent. They do not have their own state or ethnic territory, which makes them a non-territorial community whose processes of integration and self-determination take on exceptional significance. The aim of this article is to analyse the civilisational challenges facing the Roma in the context of their efforts to preserve their identity and gain recognition as a separate nation. The author presents the historical background, including centuries of persecution, culminating in World War II, when, as a result of the ‘Porajmos’, between 30% and 50% of the Roma population was killed. After the war, their situation developed differently in Western Europe and in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe – in the West, they retained relative independence and developed ‘service nomadism’, while in communist countries they were subjected to forced assimilation. The author draws on the literature on the subject, international documents and reports by human rights organisations. He pays particular attention to international regulations, such as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which form the legal basis for the protection and support of the Roma. The conclusions indicate that the Roma face the historic task of building their own national identity and political representation. This process is supported by the activities of international organisations and the development of the Roma movement, but barriers in the form of discrimination, xenophobia and marginalisation still exist.