Constructing Identities Over Time: "Bad Gypsies" and "Good Roma" in Russia and Hungary

Jekatyerina Dunajeva's book explores how two dominant stereotypes, "bad Gypsies" and "good Roma," took hold in formal and informal educational institutions in Russia and Hungary, and how these stereotypes deepen social divisions and normalize the constructed group images. It also provides a critique of contemporary endeavors and a bottom-up attention to everyday Roma voices, with personal stories revealing how identities operate in daily life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Central European University Press

Jekatyerina Dunajeva delves into the intricate dynamics of how two pervasive stereotypes, namely "bad Gypsies" and "good Roma," have permeated formal and informal educational institutions in Russia and Hungary. Through a comprehensive examination spanning centuries, she reveals how the term "Gypsies" has gradually become synonymous with criminality, educational deficiencies, and social backwardness. In contrast, the emergence of the notion of proud, empowered, and educated "Roma" is a more recent development.

To unravel the complex tapestry of these stereotypes, the book employs a five-phase historical framework, encompassing pre-modern, early-modern, early and "ripe" communism, and neomodern nation-building. This analytical approach sheds light on the enduring legacies that perpetuate social divisions and normalize the constructed group images. A particularly insightful analysis is provided through the examination of the state-managed Roma identity project during the brief korenizatsija program in the 1920s, which aimed to integrate non-Russian nationalities into the Soviet civil service. Additionally, the book offers valuable critiques of contemporary endeavors, providing valuable insights for policy makers and civic activists alike.

In addition to the top-down perspective, Dunajeva pays close attention to the voices of everyday Roma individuals, incorporating personal stories that shed light on how identities operate in daily life. Through her meticulous handling of fieldwork and self-reflexivity, she adeptly uncovers hidden narratives and subaltern discourse, demonstrating a model of sensitive research with vulnerable groups.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 157 x 235 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789633864159