_________________________________________________________________________Swansea University E-Theses Inward looking: The impact of migration on 'Romanipe' from the Romani perspective. Marinov, Aleksandar G How to cite: _________________________________________________________________________ Marinov, Aleksandar G (2015) Inward looking: The impact of migration on 'Romanipe' from the Romani perspective.. thesis, Swansea University. http://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa42670 Use policy: _________________________________________________________________________ This item is brought to you by Swansea University. Any person downloading material is agreeing to abide by the terms of the repository licence: copies of full text items may be used or reproduced in any format or medium, without prior permission for personal research or study, educational or non-commercial purposes only. The copyright for any work remains with the original author unless otherwise specified. The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holder. Permission for multiple reproductions should be obtained from the original author. Authors are personally responsible for adhering to copyright and publisher restrictions when uploading content to the repository. Please link to the metadata record in the Swansea University repository, Cronfa (link given in the citation reference above.) http://www.swansea.ac.uk/library/researchsupport/ris-support/ Inward Looking: The impact of migration on 'Romanipe' from the Romani perspective SWANSEA'JNft/ERSITY LIBRARY by Aleksandar G. Marinov ■' s:? b a a - a a Submitted to Swansea University in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Swansea University 2015 ProQuest Number: 10807439 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10807439 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 LS3RARY Abstract The Roma are those Europeans who in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries have been treated negatively by harsh laws, execution and transportation in several European countries (Mayall, 1988). At present, Roma are an integral part of Europe, however, facing structural and social inequalities, different forms of exclusion and discrimination. EU Roma form a large segment of those EU citizens who exercise their rights to freely travel, reside and work in other EU states. Some may argue, however, that the reception to EU Roma migrants has not been dissimilar to that experienced by the non-EU migrants and asylum seekers. A great part of the research on Roma/ Romani migrations focuses on political, economic and historical accounts. This study, instead, tries to give an alternative reading on Romani migrations in three main ways. Firstly, it studies Bulgarian Roma and with this complements the better understanding of the Roma of Europe. Secondly, it gives a greater emphasis on the cultural and social implications of their migrations. And thirdly, it gives an insider perspective. This work seeks to understand better the relationship between Romani identity, performance and migration. Particularly, it studies the idea of ‘Romanipe’ under the prism of the personal accounts of Romani migrants. It also seeks to understand the relationships between the Romani groups in Europe, due to their increased travel and convergence, and predict the effects of migration on (new) Romani consciousness. It is particularly interested in processes, transformation, potentialities and change. This research is based on qualitative data gathered from Romani migrants from three towns of Bulgaria. It concludes with a discussion on the Romani identity, ‘Romanipe,’ feelings of belonging and Romani (trans) nationalism. Declaration and Statements Declaration This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed: (candidate) Statement 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where correction service has been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote(s). Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. ............................................................................(candidate) Statement 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed: (candidate) Table of Contents ABSTRACT_________________________________________________________________________________________ I DECLARATION AND STATEMENTS II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VIII LIST OF FIGURES X LIST OF TABLES XI DEFINITIONS XII Ch apter 1 Introduction 1 1 .1 . P reface a n d positionality 1 1 .2 . M igration is th e ' heart', transformation is th e ' pa rt' 3 1 .3 . Contemporary debate o n m ig ra tio n 4 1 .4 . P r o ject' s fo cu s 6 1 .5 . AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 9 Ch a p t e r 2 Litera tu r e R e v ie w 13 2 .1 . Introduction 13 2 .2 . Identity 1 5 2.2.1. Perceiving the world around us 1 8 2.2.2. The creation of boundaries, the 'Other' and stereotypes 1 9 2 .3 . M igration as pa rt o f mobilities 2 1 2.3.1. Perspectives 23 2 .4 . T ransnationalism a n d Ro m a 2 4 2.4.1. Declining role of nation-states 2 6 2.4.2. Home and network capital 27 2.4.3. The role of the nation-state as still relevant 3 0 2 .5 . Ro m a 3 2 2.5.1. Romani 'representation' 3 2 2.5.2. Migrations of the Roma 34 iii 2.5.3. What is known about the Roma 37 2.5.4. Romani Identities 40 2.5.4.1. Romanipe 43 2.5.5. The case of Bulgarian Roma and the EU 44 2.5.6. Migration of Roma from Bulgaria 47 2.5.7. Romani hybridity, identification and belonging in the EU space 49 2.6. Conclusion 50 Ch apter 3 M e t h o d o l o g y 5 2 3.1. Introduction 52 3.2. Pilot study 52 3.3. Research experience 53 3 .4 . Ethical considerations 5 4 3.4.1. Positionality 56 3.5. Research Design 58 3.5.1. Studying Bulgarian Roma 58 3.5.2. Semi-structured interviews 59 3.5.3. Selection of participants 61 3.5.4. Gatekeepers 63 3.5.5. Field location 64 3.5.6. How the data were recorded and saved 64 3.6. Data analysis 66 3.6.1. Use of NVivo software 67 3.6.2. Coding 68 3.7. Limitations 69 3.8. Conclusion 71 Chapter 4 M ig r a t io n 7 3 4.1. Introduction 73 4.2. Types o f m ig r a tio n 74 4.2.1. Seasonal or 'gurbet' migration 75 4.2.2. 'Gurbet' vs. 'skilled' labourers 76 4.2.3. Yearly seasonal migration 79 4.2.4. Rhizomatic migration 82 4.2.5. Imaginative migration and simultaneity 85 4.3. Reasons for migration 92 iv 4.3.1. Individual reasons for migration 92 4.3.1.1. Economic incentives 93 4.3.1.2. Entrepreneurial reasons 97 4.3.1.3. Escape from the unwanted (home) environment 100 4.3.2. Structural reasons 109 4.3.3. Discrimination and marginalisation 109 4.4. Consequences for migrants 117 4.4.1. Building social and network capital 118 4.4.2. Increased optimism for the future 122 4.4.3. Improved social status; stories and perceptions of success 126 4.4.4. Feelings of'liberation' 129 4.4.5. Negative sides and experiences as a result of migration 131 4.5. Conclusion 135 Chapter 5 Be l o n g in g a n d Space 1 3 7 5.1. Introduction 137 5.2. Belonging to Bulgaria; clear dem arcations between "desh" and "bidesh" 138 5.2.1. Patriotism 138 5.2.2. Unfavourable treatment abroad and belonging 142 5.3. 'N etw ork capital', family ties and belonging 148 5.3.1. 'Transnational'sense of belonging 149 5.3.2. Feelings of belonging towards a specific internal group 150 5.3.2.1. Choosing to maintain close relations with family and kin abroad 155 5.4. Simultaneity and belonging 158 5.4.1. Familiarity, family and "simultaneity" 159 5 .5 . S pace- m aking 1 6 3 5.5.1. Encounters with Roma from other nation-states 163 5.5.2. Encounters with 'other' Roma from Bulgaria 166 5.5.3. The 'nerve centres' abroad: Bringing Roma together 168 5.6. Conclusion 174 Ch apter 6 R o m a n i I d e n t it y as pa r t o f M ig r a t io n a n d 'R o m a n ip e ' 1 7 7 6.1. Introduction 177 6 .2 . T he gaze, t h e 'O th e r ' an d Ro m a m ig ra n t s 1 7 8 6.2.1. Who are the Roma? A stifled identity 180 6.2.2. Who is the'Other'? 182 v 6.2.2.1. 'Us' vs Them' 183 6.2.2.2. Processes of othering 185 6.2.2.3. Difference and rivalry between Roma sub-groups 187 6.2.2.4. Summary 189 6.3. 'R o m a n ip e ' AND AN IDENTITY of becoming 190 6.3.1.