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Ilona Tomova , Lubomir Stoytchev , Stoyanka Cherkezova IPHS, BAS

Social pattern of Roma – non-Roma relations based on the in-depth interviews and opinion survey realized in Razgrad region (Bulgaria). Ilona Tomova , Lubomir Stoytchev , Stoyanka Cherkezova IPHS, BAS. Regional context.

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Ilona Tomova , Lubomir Stoytchev , Stoyanka Cherkezova IPHS, BAS

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  1. Social pattern of Roma – non-Roma relations based on the in-depth interviews and opinion survey realized in Razgrad region (Bulgaria) Ilona Tomova, LubomirStoytchev, StoyankaCherkezova IPHS, BAS

  2. Regional context • Rich ethnic diversity: largest ethnic group - Bulgarian Turks; second – Bulgarians, third - Roma people; • Experts’ estimates: more than three fourths of the Roma are not likely to identify themselves as Roma; • Low employment rates (49%, ), impoverishment, mass emigration and shrink of population (37 % between 1988 and 2011), “working poor” phenomena; • High unemployment rate among Roma, but similar or better financial situation in comparison to the rest; • About 20 % of Roma people are poor.

  3. Survey results… • Ethnic relations have been brought to normal and eased: “heterogeneity is something good because it leads to cultural richness” • Ethnic relations issues are sidestepped by social justice issues: • “reform that never happened” • “laws are different for the rich and the poor”; • “government does not act in favour of the majority but on behalf of the affluent and those in power; • “bribes, corruption and nepotism are widespread…”; • “social rights of citizens are substantially restricted and not protected by the state”.

  4. Social Image of the Roma different perspectives

  5. Average proportion of agreed: 42.3% Generalised Social Image of the Roma survey results

  6. Natural Creatures or a Group with Specific Culture?

  7. Roma Stereotypes • How to explain the positive experts’ statements about Roma in Razgrad? • The role of media and politicians - hate-speech covers other social problems.

  8. Social Distances towards the Romahypothetical symbolic relationships in which Roma people and respondents had equal social roles

  9. Social Distances towards the Romahypothetical hierarchical symbolic relationships with the respondents

  10. Social Distances towards the RomaSome Conclusions and Hypothesis • Hypothesis that • Roma people in the district of Razgrad are better integrated than the average Roma person in the country • the social distances towards the Roma in the district of Razgrad when it comes to a hierarchical position are shorter than those in the country • Explanations: • Tradition in hiring Roma as professionals (doctors, nurses, accountants, social workers, assistant-teachers, policeman etc) • the proportion of Roma who graduated from college/university and take superior positions has increased • BUT • The majority prefers to identify the highly educated and qualified Roma people as Bulgarians and Turks, or at least not as “typical Roma” • 50% of the respondents agreed with statements like: • “when I think about Roma people I feel them very different from me”; • “Roma people cannot be trusted or relied on”; • Roma are a threat to culture, social peace or the national security

  11. Open and Latent Racism

  12. Does People Justify Their Racism as Something “Natural”? • 2/3 are likely to find the reason for that in the “deficits” of the Roma themselves: “they like the way they live” and “do not care whether the rest of the people like them “ • The proportion of those who become aware that Roma people are badly treated, has surged up (50 % of respondents) • Respondents admit that traits which are intrinsic to a small part of the group are being unjustly ascribed to the whole community • Between 1/2 and 2/3 reckon that the police officers, employers and media often execute humiliating and unequal treatment • It is doubtable that this type of treatment is realised and interpreted as discrimination by respondents • Half of the them share the opinion imposed by media and particular politicians: "Roma people in this country are privileged"

  13. Attitude towards the Roma Integration Policies • Respondents better realise the necessity of a more resolute implementation of Roma integration policies • 2/3 of the respondents: “more political will and social actions are necessary” by: • social programmes for employment; • special educational programmes • more decision-making posts/positions • ¾ expressed an opinion that Roma people should have their own representatives in the National Assembly • Policies that passively support the Roma via social payments or extended antidiscrimination legislation are not accepted

  14. Thank you for your attention!

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