Methods for Marginalization: The Effects of an Anti-Roma Sentiment in Eastern and Central Europe

The Roma are one of the largest minorities in Europe and have been unquestionably marginalized for the past few decades. In this thesis the current situation of the Roma will be examined when it comes to access to basic aspects of a modern society such as access to healthcare and education. The discourse surrounding this group has for the past decades been defined by bigotry and essentialist attitudes that are criminalizing and dehumanizing and supported by a narrative that perpetuates and maintains stereotypes of the Roma. This discourse will be examined and the effects of the narrative looked at in the context of exclusion from social and political life. Recently this discourse and narrative surrounding the Roma has come under fire by scholars in an attempt to explain why this group still remains in this dire situation despite a decade of unsuccessful efforts by local governments and the EU to bring them out of poverty. The answer to that question lies in the narrative surrounding the Roma that negates any efforts by governing bodies to amend the situation and is heavily dictated by public opinion