Roma in Europe: seminars on socio-cultural, political and policy issues
Every year, the Roma Graduate Preparation Program is organizing a series of seminars on socio-cultural, political and policy issues to do with Roma communities and politics in Europe. The aim of the seminar is to reflect on pressing social issues and problems faced by Roma communities, on histories of Roma, on movements for and on behalf of Roma communities and on artistic and cultural expression of Roma identity. The overall goal of the seminar series is to expose the students to the basis for thinking what it is to be Roma in Europe today. How does the identity of Roma interweave with politics for (and against) Roma? What are the histories of Roma communities in Europe and how and why have they often been silenced? What does it mean to think and express Roma identity socially and politically in Europe today? What are the connections between social responsibility and the mobilization of Roma identity?
The seminars are envisioned to be discussion-led and focus on readings that our presenters distribute to students beforehand. Students are asked to read the provided materials for each of the sessions organized, to be prepared to actively participate in the class discussion by addressing questions, sharing their views and opinions on the basis of the reading and on their own experience