AQCI 1
Lecture: European Policies and Practice toward Ethnic Minorities
Lecturer: Antonin Mikes
Student: Kelsey Beckmeyer
Date: October 11, 2015
Hancock, Ian (2000) “The Consequences of Anti-Gypsy Racism in Europe” in Other Voices. The (e)Journal of
Cultural Criticism, v. 2, n.1 (February 2000), http://www.othervoices.org/2.1/hancock/roma.html
Birch, Anthony (1989) Nationalism and National Integration, London: Unwin Hyman Ltd, chapter 4: National
integration, pp. 36-51.
1. CENTRAL QUOTATION.
“Racism must be recognized as a cancer which, if not checked, will lead us surely and inevitably into a
catastrophic situation which has the potential to destroy Europe in a 2lst century chaos” (Hancock, 1).
2. ARGUMENT.
Hancock argues that the continued discrimination toward the Roma in Europe will lead to increased
racial tensions, even race riots, and the downfall of modern Europe. He supports his stance by outlining
the consequences and burdens of racism on the nation, which include a separation from unified national
identity, heightened financial costs of institutionalized racism, a gap in available workforce, and the
sullied image racism leaves on a nation. He implies that without action, Europe will see race riots and
potential ostracizing from the international community.
3. QUESTION.
Hancock seeks greater inclusion on the Roma in not only government, but business and educational
systems. His calls echo those of African-Americans in the 1960’s, which lead to enacting Affirmative
Action laws and subsequently conservative naysayers. These opponents of institutional inclusion turned
the tables on equal rights, stating that affirmative action was simply reverse racism. Would developing
quotas or more stringent regulations about inclusion have similar consequences? Would greater
mindfulness lead to the majority going from foe to friend and back again?
4. EXPERIENTIAL CONNECTION.
The parallel Hancock focuses on throughout this piece is the experiences of African-Americans in the
United States. However, while reading, parallels of the relation between White America and Native
America were dominate in my mind. The Roma have been persecuted for years and never fully
integrated into European culture or sense of nation. While this is very much true for African-Americans,
there is greater integration with US culture. Such integration has not been fully realized among Native
Americans to varying degrees. Unemployment rates, access to health care and education are all areas of
inequality and border on human right infringements in some cases. I wonder how the visibility of a
groups’ struggles effect the changes a nation is willing to make.
5. TEXTUAL CONNECTION.
Hancock mentions the challenges with an education system that places Roma children into inferior
schools due to language barriers, thus furthering the Roma’s disconnect from the majority. His
discussion of the role education could play in eradicating racism toward the Roma connects to Birch’s
argument that, “there are direct initiatives taken to foster integration and a sense of national identity
and pride” (Birch 40). Education is one of the “more important feature(s) of nation-building” that Birch
highlights while discussing national integration.
6. IMPLICATIONS.
The most prominent implication from Hancock and Birch is the role that developing an integrated
educational system could have on building a sense of inclusion for the Roma. This may also lead toward
improved race relations and decreased tensions. However, the language differences may remain a
barrier for such a change to occur immediately.
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s name:
Kelsey Beckmeyer
Name of
assessor:
Rebecca Heinen
Edona Begu
Date:
13.10.15
14.10.15
Essay title:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the author’s
argument?
Go
od
Aver
age
Po
or
Not
accept
able
Comments
xx
x
x
x
x
2) Has the main argument been fully understood
(including its ‘for’ and ‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
3b) Has this question not been fully answered in
the text?
xx
x
x
x
x
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
5a) Is the textual connection relevant/interesting?
5b) Has it been cited properly?
5c) Has it been adequately explained how the
present text's argument contrasts with, contradicts,
confirms, clarifies, or elaborates the other text's
argument or point?
xx
xx
x
6) Have the implications been well understood, can
they have a practical impact for policy making?
7) Expression/Presentation
a) Are the style, grammar and general use of
English adequate?
b) Is the AQCI professionally presented?
Essay grade: 8
Yes, you have good insight into
another population facing similar
circumstances
xx
xx
x
As I mentioned, maybe make the
summary broader instead of
focusing entirely on the
education issue
Further comments: