Sarah-Jane Fulton
SM629
European Policy and Practice Towards the Roma
1st AQCI- Chris Powell Razorblades amidst the velvet? (1997)
Central Quotation- ‘Public opinion polls indicate that 85 per cent of Czechoslovaks wanted
Roma to be excluded from their neighbourhoods and 92 per cent believe that all Gypsies are
criminals. Hardly anyone could countenance having a Gypsy as a friend and 83 per cent believed
Gypsies should be denied all welfare benefits. Such rampant racism is both rooted in and
reproduces the social stratificatory characteristics identified abovei.’
Argument- Powell’s article, taken from Thomas Acton’s Gypsy politics and Traveller Identity (ed.
1997) is an analysis of the ‘Changes and continuities in the Gypsy experience of the Czech and
Slovak lands. I think a significant aspect of this piece is that Powell is a British criminologist, thus
his approach to the changes and continuities of the Gypsy experience as above is somewhat
different from that of say Ian Hancock. I think this is important because Powell certainly does
focus on the criminological aspect of the Roma experience more that the title of the chapter
would suggest. He looks at the impact post communist life on ‘Gypsy’ life without really
establishing the true policy base of these changes.
Question- I thought Powell’s piece was a somewhat distorted response to the question he
initially poses. The article is largely focused on perceptions of ‘Gypsy’ life more than it is
concerned with the premise of felt experience. Powell makes broad statements about
Czechoslovaks opinions long after Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. No distinction is made
despites the marked difference in Roma experience in the two Republics. Powell also seems to
mention statistics without having the evidence to substantiate the data. I don’t deny the
sentiments behind his piece, as there is ample evidence to illustrate the racism suffered by the
Roma, I do however disagree with the title of the article and the focus of the piece. It seems to
do little to acknowledge the changes in post-communist experiences and is more of a soliloquy
than a constructive criticism.
Experiential Connection- Had this article not been titled as it was I would have expected it to
be older than it actually is. There is something quite out of date about the piece and however
good the intention is of this piece it reminds me somewhat of a condescending anthropological
piece more reminiscent of something written by Malinowski in the 1920s about Papua New
Guinea. As I have experienced many times in relation to the British media I think that aside from
stressing problems we have a duty to propose potential solutions. Anyone can write about the
prejudices faced by any number of minorities but unless conducted with a particular objective,
what use does it serve. Statistics used out of context are misleading and potentially harmful.
Textual Connection- “...efforts have been made in recent years by both Czech and Slovak
Governments to carry out a range of Roma-related activities, and to demonstrate this to the
European Union (e.g. Czech Government 2000b, Slovak Government 2000). Such activities
include what are generally small-scale projects, undertaken by Roma and pro-Roma NGOs and
often funded through the EU’s PHARE programme. In spite of such endeavours, most
ordinary Roma have yet to see any significant change in their circumstances.ii”
Implications- I think Guy’s piece as cited above is a far more thorough take on the subject
previously dealt with Chris Powell. It traces the situation facing the Roma before, during and
after Communism in both Czech and Slovak Republics. The text follows a logical line of thought
and highlights the discrepencies between the perceived and the reality facing the Roma. Statistics
can only be useful if taken in context and Powell’s article does serve a purpose but I think it is
hard to utilise the piece in a productive way outside of the criminology sphere. Will Guy’s article
is a far more relevant piece in Romani policy studies, for various reasons.
Powel, Chris (1997) ‘Razorblades amidst the velvet’ In: Acton, Thomas (ed) (1997) Gypsy Politics qnd
Traveller Identity. Hatfield: UHP.
ii
Guy, Will (2001) ‘The Czech Lands and Slovakia: another false down?’ In Guy, ed. Between Past and Future:
The Roma of Central and Eastern Europe. Hatfield: UHP.
i