Acknowledgements
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations

Introduction

Chapter 1. Identities, Interests, and Ethnic Mobilization

• 
  Romani Identity and Interests: An Overview


• 
  Theories of Ethnic Mobilization

Chapter 2. The Development of Minority Policies in Central Europe

• 
  Legacies: Communist Policies and Institutions


• 
  The Domestic Political Context of Romani Mobilization: Institutions and Policies


• 
  Allies and Opponents

Chapter 3. Ethnic Politics from Below

• 
  Romani Identity and Electoral Politics


• 
  Nonelectoral Romani Mobilization in Hungary: Actors and Issues


• 
  Nonelectoral Romani Mobilization in the Czech and Slovak Republics: Actors and Issues

Chapter 4. The Power of Framing

• 
  Problem Definition in the Accounts of the Activists


• 
  Subject Definition within the Romani Movement


• 
  Policy Perspectives: Top-Down Problem and Subject Definitions


• 
  Assessing the Effectiveness of Romani Movement Frames

Chapter 5. International Responses

• 
  International Governmental Organizations: Institutional and Political Responses


• 
  Third Parties: The Role of Transnational Advocacy Networks

Chapter 6. The Romani Movement in Theoretical Perspective

• 
  Culture, Inequality, and Ethnic Mobilization


• 
  Solving the Puzzle?


• 
  Strengths and Problems of the Competition and Political Process Approach

Notes
References
Index

The collapse of communism and the process of state building that ensued in the 1990s have highlighted the existence of significant minorities in many European states, particularly in Central Europe. In this context, the growing plight of Europe's biggest minority, the Roma (Gypsies), has been particularly salient. Traditionally dispersed, possessing few resources and devoid of a common "kin state" to protect their interests, the Roma have often suffered from widespread exclusion and institutionalized discrimination. Politically underrepresented and lacking popular support amongst the wider populations of their host countries, the Roma have consequently become one of Europe's greatest "losers" in the transition towards democracy.

Against this background, the author examines the recent attempts of the Roma in Central Europe and their supporters to form a political movement and to influence domestic and international politics. On the basis of first-hand observation and interviews with activists and politicians in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, he analyzes connections between the evolving state policies towards the Roma and the recent history of Romani mobilization. In order to reach a better understanding of the movement's dynamics at work, the author explores a number of theories commonly applied to the study of social movements and collective action.

Peter Vermeersch received his PhD from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium, where he is currently Assistant Professor in East European politics and Postdoctoral Research Fellow of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research. He is the author of several journal articles on minority politics and ethnic mobilization in Central Europe.