A Contemporary History of Exclusion

Download or read book A Contemporary History of Exclusion written by Bal zs Majt‚nyi and published by Central European University Press. This book was released on 2016-01-01 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study presents the changing situation of the Roma in the 2nd half of the 20th century. The authors examine the effects of the policies of the Hungarian state towards minorities by analyzing legal regulations, policy documents, archival sources and sociological surveys. The book offers theoretical background to one of the most burning issues in east Europe. In the first phase (1945-61), the authors show the efforts of forced assimilation by the communist state. The second phase (1961-89) began with the party resolution denying nationality status to the Roma. The prevailing thought was that Gypsy culture was a culture of poverty that must be eliminated. Forced assimilation through labor activities continued. In the 1970s Roma intellectuals began an emancipatory movement, and its legacy can still be felt. Although the third phase (1989-2010) brought about some freedoms and rights for the Roma - with large sums spent on various Roma-related programs. Despite these efforts, the situation on the ground did not improve. Segregation and marginalization continues, and is rampant. ÿ