The Romani Movement: Minority Politics and Ethnic Mobilization in Contemporary Central Europe (New York, Oxford: Berghahn, 2006)
The collapse of communism and the process of state building that ensued in the 1990s have highlighted the existence of significant minorities in many European states, particularly in Central Europe. In this context, the growing plight of Europe’s largest minority, the Roma (Gypsies), has been particularly salient. Traditionally dispersed, possessing few resources and devoid of a common “kin state” to protect their interests, the Roma have often suffered from widespread exclusion and institutionalized discrimination. Politically underrepresented and lacking popular support amongst wider populations, the Roma have become Europe’s most dramatic “losers” in the transition towards democracy. Against this background, The Romani Movement examines the recent attempts of the Roma in Central Europe and their supporters to form a political movement and to influence domestic and international politics. On the basis of first-hand observation and interviews with activists and politicians in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, the book analyzes connections between the evolving state policies towards the Roma and the recent history of Romani mobilization. In order to reach a better understanding of the movement’s dynamics at work, the book explores a number of theories commonly applied to the study of social movements and collective action.
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Het vredesfront: etnisch conflict en internationale interventie (Leuven, Den Haag, 2011)
In the last twenty years several places in the world - from East Timor to Rwanda, from Kenya to Kyrgyzstan - have been ravaged by "ethnic" violence. What have political scientists and sociologists learned from the past two decades of studying the phenomenon? What explanations have they put forward, what insights have they gained, and which assumptions were they forced to revise? This book guides the reader through the current academic literature. It examines the elusive term “ethnicity” and looks for the theory that best explains the emergence of ethnic violence. It also explores possible solutions and it examines the opportunities and risks of international interference.
Only available in Dutch. |
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