The 'Roma Problem' in the EU: Nomadism, (in)visible architectures and violence

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Pusca, Anca. 2010. The 'Roma Problem' in the EU: Nomadism, (in)visible architectures and violence. Borderlands, 9(2), pp. 1-17. [Article]

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Official URL: http://www.borderlands.net.au/vol9no2_2010/pusca_r...

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This article argues that the ‘Roma problem’ in the EU is often translated into a ‘space problem’. The targeting of Roma spaces—camps, right to movement, Roma homes and palaces—ultimately challenges the Roma’s right to settlement and insures their invisibility. By turning its attention to the recent politics of Roma expulsions in France, this article seeks to better understand their implications by looking at: a) the relationship between the Roma’s sedentary vs. nomadic lifestyle; b) the Roma’s use of space to secure both visibility and invisibility; and c) the state’s problematic use of legal violence in order to control and police the Roma. The article strongly suggests that the Roma ‘space problem’ cannot be solved by attempts to either construct (settlement) or constrict (expulsion) Roma spaces by an outside authority, but rather through an acceptance of Roma’s temporary presence—even if it involves a long-term temporality—in camps ‘abroad’ and continued support for Roma communities ‘at home’.

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Article