Publication

This paper examines the changing discourses behind policies targeting Roma in Europe since the 16th century, and their effects. The first two sections deal with approaches aiming at to exterminate and assimilate, respectively. The third section looks at 1990s policies emphasizing human rights as the basis of measures to improve the Roma’s situation. The fourth section focuses on the rising trend, since the 2000s, of justifying Roma policies with the argument that improvements in their situation will provide economic benefits for the general population. The author concludes with a comment on the need for vigilance to prevent backsliding on human rights commitments.