Constructing Romani strangerhood

This thesis deals with Romanies, more commonly known as 'Gypsies', who originated in India, migrated into Europe, and now form a minority population in every country in which they are found. From their earliest arrival, they were excluded from European societies. By continuing a nomadic lifestyle, they further separated themselves from surrounding sedentary society. This thesis aims to develop a suitable conceptual framework to examine diverse Romani populations and histories. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part draws on the work of Georg Simmel and his analysis of the ways in which 'the stranger' was formed by a combination of geographical space and metaphoric space. It discusses how Simmel's work can lead to a better understanding and explanation of Romani experiences. The discursive construction of Romani strangerhood is also examined, as is recent extension of Simmel's work by Bauman, which is utilized for its additional analytical possibilities. The second part uses Simmel's framework to illustrate the construction of Romani strangerhood under different sets of conditions in Europe. First, the perpetuation of Romani strangerhood through theories of their origin is examined. Next, Romani experiences in Romania under slavery are discussed and then their experiences in Germany, when their strangerhood went through a series of reconstitutions. Finally, the combination of geographical space and metaphoric space that influenced construction of Romani strangerhood in Britain is discussed. The third part focuses on the construction of Romani strangerhood in Australia. The value of Simmel's ideas for understanding Romani identity construction by individuals in contemporary Australia is explored. Formal and informal networks that help to constitute Romani strangerhood are examined through specific case studies of individuals undertaking a redemptive journey. Overall the analysis of Romani histories in general, and specifically in the four countries, highlights the value of Simmel's analytical framework involving the combination of geographical and metaphoric space to produce strangerhood. However, his approach can be strengthened, especially through the use of Bauman's insights into responses to the stranger, and Middleton and Edward's work on remembering and forgetting and identity construction. This analysis also points to some key issue for future research.