The Roma in Hungary: The Situation and Perspectives on the Threshhold of the 21st Century

• Main Author: Boris Nikšić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies 2004-12-01
• Series: Migracijske i Etniĉke Teme
• Subjects: Roma; minority; integration; assimilation; prejudices; discrimination
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/10688

In this paper the author examines the situation of the Roma minority in present-day Hungary. First he gives a short overview, summarizing Roma history in all of Europe from the time of their arrival, especially in regard to Hungary. He presents general information on the language and on some cultural-civilisational traits of the Roma in the past and compares former assimilational tendencies formulated in the atmosphere of enlightened absolutism with similar tendencies that appeared and were implemented in many European countries in the more recent period. The author directs special attention to the economic, social and educational aspects of the Roma theme in Hungary, and presents some indications concerning the images the Hungarian majority has of the Roma minority. To a certain degree he analyses the structure of prejudices towards the Roma, in relation to the social strata from which they come. Most of his data derives from research conducted on the theme of the Roma in Hungary during the last fifteen years. The question of the educational structure of the Roma population is analysed primarily in regard to how much it enables employment. A poor educational structure and the impossibility to find employment are indicated as the main problems preventing the full integration of the Roma into present-day Hungarian society. Finally, the author analyses the role of civil society associations in resolving the problems of the Roma, with a special note on strictly Roma organisations as forms of minority self-government. Some examples are given also of the penetration of modern mass culture into the collective cultural identificational code of the Roma minority. These cultural elements, alongside Roma traditions that are still maintained and nurtured, help to increase the self-consciousness of the Roma, but they also stimulate interests in the rest of the population and in this way sensitivise the general population towards the Roma theme.