The Roma in Romanian History
Viorel Achim, Nicolae Iorga Institute of History,
Romanian Academy of Sciences, Bucharest.
One of the greatest challenges during the enlargement
process of the European Union towards the east is how
the issue of the Roma or Gypsies is tackled. This ethnic
minority group represents a much higher share by numbers,
too, in some regions going above 20% of the population.
This enormous social and political problem cannot be
solved without proper historical studies like this book,
the most comprehensive history of Gypsies in Romania.
It is based on academic research, synthesizing the entire
historical Romanian and foreign literature concerning
this topic, and using lot of information from the archives.
The main focus is laid on the events of the greatest
consequence. Special attention is devoted to aspects
linked to the long history of the Gypsies, such as slavery,
the process of integration and assimilation into the
majority population, as well as the marginalization
of Gypsies, which has historic roots. The process of
emancipation of Gypsies in the mid-19th century receives
due treatment. The deportation of Gypsies to Transnistria
during the Antonescu regime, between 1942-1944, is reconstructed
in a special chapter. The closing chapters elaborate
on the policy toward Gypsies in the decades after the
Second World War that explain for the latest developments
and for the situation of this population in today's
Romania.
"This masterful study broadly expands our knowledge
of the life, history, and customs of Romania's large,
diverse Roma population... an essential source for anyone
interested in the history, life, and culture of the
Roma in southeastern Europe". - Slavic Review
"This English-language edition may well become
an essential research tool for politicians and social
and educational planning departments grappling with
the challenge of European integration". - Contemporary
Review
"The Central European University Press is to be
congratulated for publishing two outstanding scholarly
analyses of the root causes of anti-Roma racism, which
is rapidly taking center stage in the drama of the East
European transition process. The books (Blood
and Homeland and The Roma in Romanian History) fill
a large gap in urgently needed knowledge. They may well
become essential research tools for politicians and
social and educational planning departments that are
approaching the challenge of European integration. The
books will be useful also for university courses in
history, sociology, and politics, as well as Holocaust
and genocide studies". - Transitions Online
Contents
Foreword Introduction
Chapter I The arrival of the Gypsies on the territory
of Romania Chapter II The Gypsies in the Romanian
lands during the Middle Ages. Chapter III Emancipation
Chapter IV The Gypsies in Romania in the interwar
period Chapter V The policy of the Antonescu
regime with regard to the Gypsies Chapter VI
The Gypsies during the Communist regime. A few points
of reference Chapter VII The current situation
of the Gypsies (Roma) in Romania Contents Indexes
2004
240 pages
ISBN 978-963-9241-84-8 cloth $49.95 / €42.95 /
£33.00
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