doiSerbia

Roma between discrimination and integration: Social change and the status of Roma

Jakšić Božidar Lj. (Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju, Beograd)

Roma are a highly dispersed ethnic communicate. After international protectorate was established in Kosovo. Roma have become the most numerous ethnic minority in Yugoslavia. When discrimination against and integration of Roma people are concerned, it has to be kept in mind that thus far Roma have been exposed most often to negative discrimination, while integration for them has often meant de facto assimilation. As positive discrimination of minority groups in a society is also a viable option, the approach to the 'Roma issue' basically implies a strategic shift in the conduct of all state institutions and other social factors - from negative to positive discrimination, and from assimilation towards genuine integration of Roma. The basic approach suggested by this author is the one that enables Roma to be equal citizens of this country. The circles of poverty hi which Roma population finds itself are increasingly deeper. However, the realm of poverty is spreading across the entire space of Yugoslavia. Pauperization prevails. The devastation of living conditions for all citizens of Yugoslavia, i.e. of Serbia and Montenegro, except for the narrow circle of war profiteers and people involved with power centers, has been underway for over a decade. Middle classes have disappeared from the social scene, while many families have dropped to the sub-proletarian zone of poverty.

Keywords: Roma, poverty, positive discrimination, social distance, integration.