IISES International Academic Conference, London

ANTI-ROMA RACISM A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE: ANTIGYPSYISM VS. ROMAPHOBIA

LILIANA ENE

Abstract:

This paper addresses a problem of modern society as one of the most serious consequences of biopolitics/biopower, namely racism. The study focused on racism directed at the Roma Minority. In the specialized literature but also among the most relevant human rights activists, different opinions are found regarding both the definition of this phenomenon and the specific term used to denote this type of racism focused on the Romani people, thus giving rise to the controversy Antigypsyism vs. Romaphobia. At EU level, there has been a legal reflection on the concept of Antigypsyism for over a decade, recognized as a special form of racism, aimed at Roma Minority, being one of the main causes of discrimination and historical marginalization of Roma in many European countries that surpasses the legal discrimination concept. In addition, the qualitative research addressed in this paper allowed the realization of a series of semi-structured interviews, and aims to make the voices of the Roma heard, to signal racism, discrimination and the problems they encounter.

Keywords: Antigypsyism, Romaphobia, Anti- Roma Racism.