Description
The obliviousness of the states towards the Roma has led to the intensification of the process of institutionalized racism. This has been responded to through a series of campaigns and advocacy by non-state organizations striving for policy changes to secure recognition of Roma rights. Normatively, Roma civil society can be considered as a site of resistance and emancipation against the domain of cultural hegemony, physical oppression and economic competition. However, the Roma movement is not an institutional movement and involves a plethora of organizations, actors and individuals.
While non-state organizations play an important part, activists contend that a number of such organizations have been funded by European and American donors, necessitating adherence to the policies conditioned by the donors. Despite possessing technical skills like lobbying and communication, such organizations cannot be considered to potentially represent the Roma and are a departure from the core principles of the Roma Movement. The above situation is considered to have led the Roma being perceived as mere clients, significantly hindering the progress of the movement. The paper, in this context, attempts to identify the challenges and complexities of the Roma movement through an analyses of the role of civil society advocacy in negotiating inclusion.
