The Mediterranean Roma

Abstract

The Mediterranean region was the key entry point and destination for Roma moving into Europe and North Africa as a result of migrations through the Middle East. For example, the Sulukule neighbourhood in today’s Istanbul is considered to be one of the earliest Romani settlements in this region (Uzpeder et al. 2008). In Europe, the Roma are acknowledged as the most marginalized minority ethnic group, living in the poorest conditions. New research on their situation in Italy is examined in detail in this chapter, which confirms the ongoing contemporary process of antigypsyism and active state racisms. The fieldwork for this case study was conducted between 2010 and 2012¹ and included six interviews with dwellers from different formal camps, four interviews with Roma cultural mediators and activists (of whom two live in the formal camps), one interview with the former Roma delegated to the Mayor, four interviews with members of different associations/social cooperatives that provided education and other services within the formal camps, one interview with a member of Caritas, one interview with the head of a communal job integration scheme, two interviews with activists, one interview with researchers, and one interview with a trade union member, as well as several informal interviews with local politicians, activists, researchers, teachers, dwellers within the camps and members of the social cooperatives.