The Roma National Minority in Serbia – Demographic Tendencies and Problems

U radu se analizira etnička struktura stanovništva Srbije s posebnim osvrtom na etnodemografske promjene u kretanju romske nacionalne manjine. Prema podacima posljednjeg popisa 2002. godine, u Srbiji je (bez Kosova i Metohije) registrirano 108,2 tisuće (1,4%) pripadnika romske nacionalnosti. Promatrano po popisima, atipične varijacije u broju i udjelu Roma rezultat su prirodnog prirasta, migracija, ali u značajnoj mjeri i stalne promjene etničke pripadnosti. Taj subjektivni činilac karakterističan je za romsku zajednicu, ali od sedamdesetih godina 20. stoljeća sve više dolazi do »buđenja« nacionalne svijesti i njihove etničke emancipacije. Demografski razvitak Roma odlikuju nepovoljne tendencije u prirodnom kretanju, kao i u najvažnijim strukturama stanovništva (starosnoj, obrazovnoj i ekonomskoj). Romi su relevantna manjina, kako na području Srbije, tako i u svim državama Srednje i Jugoistočne Europe. Međutim, višegodišnja marginalizacija, segregacija i diskriminacija uvjetovala je njihov iznimno težak položaj na svim prostorima. Osnovni uvjet za poboljšanje socioekonomskog i kulturnog položaja Roma odnosno društveno-socijalnu pokretljivost i integriranost u društvo, jest obrazovanje. U tom smislu, na državi je da, u suradnji s romskom etničkom zajednicom, prekine »začarani krug siromaštva« i osigura Romima, ako ne veća, onda barem ista prava kao svim drugim nacionalnim manjinama.This article presents the ethnic structure of the population of Serbia with a special comment on ethno-demographic changes in the Roma population. In Serbia (excluding Kosovo and Metohia) the Roma national minority, according to the 2002 census, numbers about 108,200 (1.4% of the total population). The most important factors that affect the number and share of the Roma in Serbia\u27s population are natural increment, migration and particularly constant shifts in declarations on national affiliation (“ethnic transfer”). This subjective factor was typical for the Roma community, but from the 1970s there has been an “awakening” of their national consciousness and an increase in ethnic emancipation. The demographic development of the Roma population is characterised by negative tendencies in natural demographic movements, as well as in the most important demographic structures (the age structure of population, the educational structure, the economic structure, etc.). The Roma are a relevant national minority in Serbia, as well as in the other countries of Central and Southeast Europe. However, their social, economic, political and cultural position is very difficult as a result of their marginalization, segregation and discrimination. The basic requirement for the social promotion and integration of the Roma population into the society are schooling and the education of this nationality. Through education, the “vicious circle”, from which there is often no escape, could be broken. Also, the state must secure for the Roma minority, if not greater rights, than at least the same rights as it assures to all other national minorities