Search

This note considers some of the reporting on Highland Gypsy Travellers by journalists writing in northern Scottish newspapers in the mid- and late-nineteenth century and illustrates the nature and extent of prejudices against this group. It shows how these prejudices were displayed even by those who advocated for Highlanders, opposed oppression and showed sympathy towards the plight of Travellers. These include Hugh Miller, writing in the Inverness Courier, John Mackie in the John o' Groat Journal and Northern Ensign, and Thomas Mulock in the Inverness Advertiser. These writers, while rejecting the claim that there were innate differences between 'races of men', generally held that some peoples had fallen into a 'degraded state' from which it was the duty of Christians to rescue them. This was similar to the approach often taken towards colonised peoples, for example towards First Nations children in Canada. The note briefly considers two areas of legislation which had an impact in Highland Gypsy Travellers – the Vagrancy Act, extended to Scotland in 1871, and the Education Acts of the 1870s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine children's ethnic discrimination in access to sport. We conducted two field experiments to test whether Roma applicants get greater rejection rates when applying to sport clubs and whether this rate is higher in case Roma applicants have a lower-class background. Basketball, volleyball, and soccer coaches were contacted by e-mail using Roma and non-Roma sounding names, requesting to participate in a trial practice. Previous findings show persistent discrimination of Roma people in Central and Eastern Europe in the labor and housing market and in access to various public services. Our findings in the field of sport in Hungary show that there is significant ethnic discrimination only when a stereotype about Roma people being lower class is activated. Further, gender was found to have a significant effect, with higher positive response rates for mothers applying for a trial session for a daughter, than for a son, regardless of their ethnicity. Our findings suggest a prevailing intersection of class and ethnicity, though our data does not allow for the separation of these two effects. These differences are discussed to better understand the role of intersectionality in discrimination within sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forced sterilisation, a serious violation of human rights, occurred across the former communist bloc, both during and after the socialist period. This study examines the case of the Czech Republic, where legislation regarding compensation to the victims of forced sterilisation was only passed in 2021, despite a 2005 finding by the Ombudsman that at least 50 women had been subject to the procedure. My research shows that long-standing discrimination against Roma people and public lack of interest in the issue were largely to blame for this delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roma population—with a unique history marked by migration, settlement issues, and ongoing resilience—has always faced significant social marginalization and has often been subjected to forced migration. Despite being one of the largest and most diverse ethnic groups in Europe, Roma continue to face systemic discrimination and social exclusion, leading to poor outcomes in education, employment, health, and housing. This article analyses the migration pathways, settlement experiences, and persistent obstacles faced by Roma. We argue that removing historical and systemic barriers to create a more equitable and welcoming environment for the Roma community is their right. The resilience of the Roma community in the face of adversity is a testament to their cultural strength and adaptability. This research aims to document these aspects and thus provide a basis for policies that promote social inclusion, equality, and respect for cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates contemporary expressions of racism toward Roma in the context of growing populism in the UK. We focus on how and why Romaphobia becomes widespread in times of socio-political crises, especially during the 2016 referendum when the UK voted to leave the European Union. Drawing on content analysis and Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis, we provide an in-depth account of how Roma migrants have been represented in two British newspapers during the 2016 so-called "Brexit" Referendum campaign and subsequent vote. The textual and visual analysis demonstrates how racist tropes about Roma identity and culture are embedded into populist rhetoric, often taking subtle forms of expression, yet simultaneously manage to avoid accusations of racism. We argue that the scapegoating and demonisation of Roma migrants in the media contributed to shaping negative attitudes towards Eastern European immigrants and by proxy, to the EU. This plays out in a context of rising nativism and populism where Roma communities come to embody the perceived ills of the European integration project and are regarded as a threat to the fabric of the British nation. We draw attention to the danger of these representations which condemn an already vulnerable community to further socio-economic exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous factors have a great impact on the health of children living in a Roma community. Healthy nutrition, tempering procedures, observance of a daily routine and established hygiene habits predetermine the health status of children. Roma families have different attitudes and perceptions of the value of health. Some families have low health culture and are unwilling to accept the development of hygiene habits. The aim of the present study is to learn and analyze the factors influencing the health of children living in a Roma community aged 0-7 years.The object of research are 270 Roma from different Roma groups with children in their families aged 0-7 years. The survey method is essential for gathering empirical information from the field, along with in-depth interviews and expert opinions. Sociological and statistical methods have been used. Results and Discussion: The fact that only a third of Roma children are taught to wash their hands after performing physiological needs is alarming. Only 38.5% of older children in the family and 23% of younger children have acquired this habit. In the upbringing of children, no great importance is attached to the observance of a daily routine. Conclusion: Taking care of the body, maintaining good personal hygiene and building health habits in early childhood will prevent the development of many diseases. This is the responsibility of Roma parents, but health professionals can actively participate in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, Archive of Our Own, a renowned fanfiction website, became inaccessible in China due to mass reporting by a celebrity's fans upset about him being portrayed as having a gender identity disorder in a fanfiction. This event led to increased regulation of Boys' Love (BL) content on many Chinese fanfiction platforms, posing challenges for writers. This study interviews Chinese BL fanfiction writers post‐incident and explores their strategies for navigating the shrinking creative space. It argues that China's current fandom culture is capital‐driven, data‐centric, and commercial, fostering a “fanquan (fan circle)” culture that redefines the meaning of “being a fan.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charcot–Marie–Tooth neuropathy type 4D (CMT4D) is a rare genetic disorder of the peripheral nervous system caused by biallelic mutations in the N-Myc Downstream Regulated 1 gene (NDRG1). Patients present with an early onset demyelinating peripheral neuropathy causing severe distal muscle weakness and sensory loss, leading to loss of ambulation and progressive sensorineural hearing loss. The disorder was initially described in the Roma community due to a common founder mutation, and only a handful of disease-causing variants have been described in this gene so far. Here, we present genetic and clinical findings from a large Bulgarian cohort of demyelinating CMT patients harboring recurrent and novel variants in the NDRG1 gene. Notably, two splice-site variants are exclusive to Bulgarian Muslims and reside in ancestral haplotypes, suggesting a founder effect. Functional characterization of these novel variants implicates a loss-of-function mechanism due to shorter gene products. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the genetic and clinical heterogeneity of CMT4D and highlight novel founder mutations in the ethnic minority of Bulgarian Muslims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 'Taking the screening tests close to the people' program offers cardiovascular screening to the inhabitants of underprivileged settlements. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors of underprivileged populations, including individuals who described themselves as belonging to the Roma population. Methods: During the program, we collected information about demographic features, lifestyle and current illnesses. A general health assessment (body weight, height, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose) and cardiovascular examination were performed. We analysed data on both Roma and non-Roma groups and used Pearson's chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression models to analyse the factors that contribute to the onset of comorbidities, with a special focus on ethnicity. Results: Data from 6211 participants were processed. Based on self-reports, the non-Roma population consisted of 5352 respondents (1364 men (25.5%) and 3988 women (74.5%)), and the Roma population comprised 859 respondents (200 men (23.3%) and 659 women (76.7%)). A total of 91.2% (4849) of the non-Roma population and 92.5% (788) of the Roma population exercised less than 3 h per week (p < 0.001). Of the non-Roma population, 71.7% (3512) had a body mass index above 25 kg/m2, while the corresponding figure was 72.4% (609) in the Roma population (p = 0.709). The median body mass index was 28.0 (24.6–31.9) in the non-Roma population and 28.8 (24.5–33.0) in the Roma population (p < 0.001). The prevalence of active smokers was 28.7% (1531) in the non-Roma population and 60.3% (516) in the Roma population (p < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension was 54.9% (2824) in the non-Roma population and 49.8% (412) in the Roma population (p < 0.001). The prevalence of diabetes was 11.5% (95) in the Roma population and 12.2% (619) in the non-Roma population (p < 0.001). Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, a lack of physical activity and an remarkably high smoking rate in the studied underprivileged population. Both type 2 diabetes and hypertension were more common among people living in underprivileged settlements than in the general Hungarian population. People living in underprivileged settlements need more attention in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orang Asli (OA) Seletar is one of indigenous group categorized under Proto-Malay group alongside with other tribes such as Temuan, Semelai, Jakun, Kanaq and Kuala. OA Seletar also has been recognized as one of sea gypsies group, alongside with OA Kuala because their entire livelihood depends on the sea. Besides that, their understanding of the marine world is different with common people as the sea is not just a source of sustenance but also means to provide to their families. Because of that, most of OA Seletar have taken up fishing as their main occupation to ensure their survival. This study aims to identify the socioeconomic activities carried out by the Seletar indigenous community in Kampung Bakar Batu, Johor Bahru. This study has used a qualitative approach such as in-depth interview methods, participant observation, and library methods. A total of five informants were interviewed to obtain the necessary information. Participatory observation was also done to obtain evidence to support the information obtained during the interview session. The results of the study found that the Seletar community in Kampung Bakar Batu has carried out two main socioeconomic activities, namely traditional fishing and the sale of fishing bait. However, these activities are creasingly challenged by development projects near their settlement areas. This study is indirectly important to document the persistence of the Seletar community in carrying out socioeconomic activities to improve their living standards and economic standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific debates surrounding feminism in the 21st century increasingly call for mainstream feminism to include the voices of non-white women, as well as looking also at the work and expressions of feminism taking place in the Global South. While progress has been made in the United States in acknowledging the work and demands of non-white feminism, Europe lags behind in recognizing and amplifying the feminist contributions and demands of its largest non-migrant ethnic minority, the Roma. This article presents findings from qualitative fieldwork conducted with 23 Romani women and young adults organized in civic organizations across Spain, exploring how they understand and experience feminism. Despite working towards gender equality among Romani men and women, as well as equality between Romani and nonRomani women, many do not identify with dominant representations of feminism. Our results highlight three key elements of what these women would claim as Romani feminism: the role of men as allies, claiming freedom as women as a central aspect of Roma cultural identity, and advocating for a feminism that promotes and safeguards the idea of equality of differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines a case of urban displacement and its impact on the local Roma community by uncovering the discursive strategies of the local governments and the tactical responses of the local people. Based on two-year-long ethnographic research, this study aims to understand the intricate dynamics of the counter-cultural production of the Roma people as a response to gentrification policies of local governments. The rapid rise of the rent value of land has motivated the capital class to force an exile strategy on Roma and accelerated existing segregation policies. During this time, some discursive strategies to manufacture public consent about the gentrification have circulated to change the representation of the Roma identity, replacing their imagery in mainstream society by mainly signifying them as the undeserving poor. This research aims to understand how strategic discourses and actions have positioned Roma in the societal and cultural sphere and in response, how everyday tactics of the Roma engenders counter-cultural forms through intercultural communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the food insecurity experienced by the Roma population of the Valencian Community (Spain) and the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional exploratory study using a questionnaire that collected information on socioeconomic status and situations of food insecurity experienced before and during lockdown, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The questionnaire was applied by health workers from the Roma community with people over 18 years of age. A descriptive analysis was carried out stratifying by sex, calculating Chi-square test to identify differences in the variables of the experiences of food insecurity. Results: 468 people participated (57.1% women/42.9% men) who expressed: worry about a lack of food (67.3%); eating the same type of food (37.2%); not being able to eat healthy foods (34.4%); feeling hungry and not being able to eat (9.6%). Around 2.1 percent stated that they could not eat for a whole day, and 65 percent reported that they had to ask for or provide help to be able to eat. When stratifying by sex, it was found that women had more experiences of food insecurity. Except in the case of having stopped eating for a full day, where the percentage remained constant, an increase was observed in the other experiences of food insecurity during lockdown. Conclusions: A large part of the Roma population studied, especially women, experienced situations of food insecurity before COVID-19 that were aggravated during lockdown. This situation was compensated for by community support networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article asserts that it can be analytically expedient to employ and combine aspects of Critical Criminology and Critical Romani Studies in research that analyses the relationship between Roma and the criminal justice system. The resulting approach focuses on criminalization and racialization processes and how they are intertwined, as well as on social construction of representations and on structural discrimination, which is analysed from an intersectional perspective. When applied to research into mothers serving community sentences in Italy, this analytical framework enabled us to highlight forms of discrimination that affect Roma women given non-custodial sentences and show how their relationship with the criminal justice system is influenced by the prevailing cultural constructs regarding gender and motherhood, as well as by racialization processes and class backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study addresses the absence of a comprehensive institutional analysis framework in the academic literature on state-minority relations. It does so by employing a framework of analysis based on Skocpol's analysis of structural factors and Ostrom's multi-level institutional analysis to understand the processes of radical and incremental institutional change. The article is empirically grounded in a case study of Roma communities in Slovakia. More specifically, it maps and analyzes the evolution and change of institutional frameworks of state-minority relations in the context of Roma communities in Slovakia from the 1960s to 2020. Drawing from archival materials, interview findings, and document analysis, this article shows how post-socialist Slovakia radically redefined and diversified its institutional framework for Roma communities at different institutional levels, which subsequently continued to change at an incremental pace. Overall, the study aspires to offer a more dynamic institutional approach to the study of state-minority relations, which are currently dominated by more static regime- and rights-based approaches, and to contribute with a prospectively useful framework for understanding the developments of state-minority relations in the broader post-Soviet space and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to examine in depth the collective practices of the Roma population as a form of resistance to the demands of today's "modern" society, characterised by individualisation and the search for personal satisfaction. The purpose is to find in them alternative ways of understanding the functioning of society, especially at a time when the "common" is once again at the forefront of discussion. This is a review of the literature published in the ERIC, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Scielo databases. The results confirm that, as a result of the major socio-political changes of recent decades, Roma subjectivity is caught between two competing ways of seeing the world: that of their own culture and that of the majority society, which is governed by norms that are to some extent alien to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Discrimination against Roma individuals is a prevalent issue across Europe, presenting significant socio‐economic challenges. Spain, holding the highest concentration of Roma in Western Europe, serves as a focal point for investigating such disparities. Objectives: This study aims to explore the wage gap between the Roma and non‐Roma populations in Spain, assessing the extent to which this disparity may be attributed to potential discriminatory practices. The objective is to provide a detailed analysis of wage inequalities to inform more effective anti‐discrimination policies. Methods: The analysis utilizes data from the 2018 Survey on Social Integration and Social Needs, employing statistical and econometric techniques. This approach helps in quantifying the wage gap and in examining the factors contributing to the observed disparities between the two groups. Results: The findings indicate a substantial wage gap between the Roma and non‐Roma populations. Approximately 43.5 percent of the wage difference remains unexplained by the standard variables included in the econometric model, suggesting that factors beyond educational and professional qualifications might contribute to these inequalities. Conclusion: The significant unexplained portion of the wage gap likely points to the existence of ethnic discrimination by employers. This study underscores the urgent need for nuanced, targeted anti‐discrimination interventions specifically designed for the Roma community in Spain. The results advocate for policy adjustments that address these disparities at their core, ensuring equity and social integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architectural study and analysis of ancient monuments help us in their complete understanding and classification in modern science. The monumental architecture of ancient Constantinople is one of the topics that is not only not sufficiently studied, but also has not found its rightful place in today's architecture and archeology. An important monument built in the late antique City is the rotunda at “Myrelaion”. After carefully collecting data from the various research activities and excavations, we can find its parallels in the Capitol in Rome, but also in the Rotunda of Galerius in Thessaloniki. The overall analysis allows us to hypothetically determine its height, and the type of dome, but also helps us to place it on the worthy second place in size among the domed halls in the world and first place in Constantinople. The transition of the function of the rotunda as a type of building for religious needs to representative ones is also noted [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically explores research with marginalized communities. We provide an insight into our work with the Roma community, reflecting on innovation, opportunities, and barriers, alongside the need for more work in this area. A particular focus here surrounds novel methodologies for exploring the health and well-being of such groups and ways of co-producing research. This article also raises awareness around arts-based social prescribing with marginalized communities and the need to upscale work in this regard. Through doing so, we hope to influence practice, raise awareness around work with the Roma community and enable more creativity within the broader field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a large and growing body of work has explored the effects of minority representation, Europe's oldest minority has been overlooked. Previous studies have shown that social exclusion and abstention rates in districts with a high Romani population are inflated (Carmona in Sociol Hist 10(1):174–205, 2019). Still, no individual data has ever been used to understand Romanies' participation in politics. Combining a pool of datasets covering Romanies in Spain with district and municipal level data, we comprehensively study Romanies' turnout. Controlling for several individual and district variables, we find that Romanies vote less, are less interested, and think that elections are less useful than the rest of the Spaniards. Our results suggest that socialization plays a role. Both living in a Romani district and following evangelism affect the reasons given by Romanies to never participate in politics: while those who live in Romani districts declare to abstain because of thinking that elections are useless, those who live in non-Romani neighborhoods declare to abstain because they are non-interested in politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

While the expansion of higher education increases access to higher qualifications, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are at an increased risk of dropping out. Research shows that student progression is more successful in inclusive higher education environments. The study focuses on the promotion of opportunities for Roma in higher education, contributing to the international discourse on this issue. A Hungarian higher education organization supporting young Roma people and students of socially disadvantaged backgrounds is presented, relying on the experiences of young people who have been members of this community over the past twenty years. The question is whether and how the inclusive characteristics of the organization are reflected in the recollections of our interviewees (N = 50) about the student society. The narrative content analysis of the interviews shows that the former students' entry into and time spent in the student society was embedded in a strong (peer and tutorial) social network, which framed and amplified the mentioned inclusive elements and forms of support of the organization. The inclusive approach and practices of the student society community played a key role in the mobility of Roma youth during their university years and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been limited studies comparing Chinese and American news media in their descriptions of vaccines, especially their use of metaphors in the context of COVID-19. Hence, this paper employs a corpus-assisted critical approach to examine the metaphors used in constructing crisis discourses relating to vaccines in Chinese and American newspapers. The study reveals four conceptual metaphors: WEAPON, MACHINE, TRAVELLER, and CONTEST. The usage of these metaphors is intertwined with wider discursive contexts, which are shaped by the two countries' distinct journalistic and geopolitical/sociocultural contexts. These have resulted in the adoption of different strategies for handling the COVID-19 crisis, reflecting the ideologies of collectivism in China and capitalism in America. The study highlights the significance of metaphors in shaping the ideologies of governments and/or the public towards vaccines through news media. Additionally, this paper provides a useful framework for comparing metaphor usage in two large corpora using Wmatrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Space & Society / Tér és Társadalom is the property of Centre for Economic & Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant global health issue, particularly affecting poor and marginalised populations. These infections significantly contribute to children's diseases, malnutrition, poor school performance, cognitive disorders, and future economic losses. This study aimed to explore and compare the occurrence of intestinal parasites in early childhood among the group of infants from the Slovak majority population and from marginalised Roma communities (MRCs). Furthermore, it aimed to explore the health complaints of children with and without intestinal parasitic infection in the past month and assess the effect of various risk factors on the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infection in infants from MRCs. Methods: We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers and stool samples of their children aged 13–21 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study. A total of 181 stools from infants were analysed: 105 infants from the Slovak majority population and 76 from MRCs. Results: Infants from MRCs are significantly more often infected by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Giardia duodenalis than their better-off peers from the majority population. Infection rates are 30% in infants from MRCs vs. 0% in the majority population (p < 0.001). Single and mixed infections were observed in children from MRCs. Infants with intestinal parasitic infections suffer significantly more often from various health complaints, particularly cough, stomach ache, irritability, and diarrhoea. Within MRCs, the risk of parasitic infections in infants is significantly increased by risk factors such as the absence of flushing toilets in households (OR = 4.17, p < 0.05) and contact with un-dewormed animals (OR = 3.61, p < 0.05). Together with the absence of running water in the household, these three factors combined increase the risk more than ten times (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Maintaining hygienic standards in conditions of socioeconomic deprivation in MRCs without running water and sewage in the presence of un-dewormed animals is problematic. These living conditions contribute to the higher prevalence of parasitic infections in children from MRCs, causing various health complaints and thus threatening their health and healthy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the rise of international cooperation and policing in solving the so-called "Gypsy question" between 1870 and 1945. Situating this issue within a broader phenomenon of illiberal internationalism, it demonstrates how the central European powers often pursued international action to serve their own national agendas. In doing so, this study shows how the shared concern of cross-border Gypsy itinerancy and migration in central Europe prompted several international policing initiatives that eventually crystallized under the International Criminal Police Commission (or ICPC) in 1931 into a transnational framework for controlling Gypsies. Against this background, the article also investigates whether the role of Switzerland and Austria as major frontrunners for anti-Gypsy international measures changed once the ICPC was under Nazi control. By closely examining critical activities and antiziganist ICPC discourse between 1933 and 1945, it reveals how the ICPC created a matrix of surveillance that eased the way toward the Gypsy genocide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrival of Jews from Hungary to Uruguay occurred between 1920 and 1957. In this study we focus only on analyzing the experiences both in Hungary and in Uruguay of those who arrived during and after the Shoa. That is, of those who suffered persecution and attempted extermination for being Jews and of those who survived it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the history of Sufism, the Qalandarīs are a group of people who are considered to be outside the mainstream (heterodox) due to their contradictory appearance, the indifferent at - titude of some of them towards the Sharī‘a, and their practices such as begging, celibacy and wandering. The geography of Qalandarīs covers a wide region from India to the Balkans, the Middle East and finally Egypt. Egypt, due to its contacts and proximity to the Middle East, has been a country that has attracted the attention of Qalandarīs from the east since the earliest periods of the history of Qalandariyya. Before the Mamluk rule, Qalandarīs such as al-Hasan b. Muhammad al-’Ukbarī and Jamal al-Dīn al-Sāwī came to Egypt and even died here. Again in this period, some travellers pointed out the Qalandarī groups they witnessed in Egypt. During the Mamluk period, it is observed that the Qalandarīs had a presence in the region by opening zawiyas and attracting various followers. Abu al-Hasan al-Shushtarī, Hasan al-Jawālikī al-Qalan - darī, Kaygusuz Abdal, al-Kutbu al-Irāqī are some of these names. During the Mamluk period, it is seen that the Qalandarīs faced objections from both the ‘ulemā and the administration due to some of their practices and appearances, but they tried to adapt to the demands of society and politics, and thus they were able to continue to survive in the country. Our study analy - ses the main representatives of the Qalandarite presence in Egypt during the Mamluk period, their relations with the administration, the ‘ulemā and the society, primarily based on Mamluk sources. During the Mamluk rule in Egypt, it is shown that the Qalandarīs continued to exist, opened zawiyas in the region, and produced some important representatives, although they occasionally experienced tensions with the administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, one of the countries with the largest Roma community in Europe, the gap between the majority population and the Roma minority continues to be wide. The paper explores whether there is a sustainability of traditional Roma occupations and crafts or whether we are witnessing a continuous occupational dynamic. The objective of the research is to identify the patterns of traditional and non-traditional economic activities practised in Roma communities in two cities: Timişoara and Cluj-Napoca. The research hypothesis investigates whether there is a wide range of economic activities in analyzed Roma communities, where traditional activities tend to have a negligible share and dynamics compared to non-traditional ones. Also, we analyze whether traditional activities remain relevant in Roma communities and whether they represent a significant occupational resource in the case of external migration. The following statistical hypotheses are presented: there are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca. These are observed in the choice of practising non-traditional-traditional economic activities in the country. There are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca in the practice of traditional versus non-traditional occupations according to ethnic subgroup membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the prospects and limitations of the republican theory of freedom as an analytical tool for analysing Turkey's state of rights and liberties. Following an outline of the main philosophical arguments of republican freedom, which emphasises the link between freedom and non-domination, the paper focuses on the cases of Alevis and Roma-Gypsy populations in Turkey, as two different minority groups that face a unique set of identity problems. The debate on the nature of the discriminatory treatment of certain ethnoreligious groups in Turkey tries, on the one hand, to demonstrate the republican conception's promise to uncover difficulties relating to the status of freedoms. On the other hand, it seeks to highlight potential constraints, especially when it realises socio-economic rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the member countries of the European Union, Romania is consolidated as the country with the sixth largest agricultural area and the fifth largest arable area; this natural advantage allows it to be a major agricultural producer and possibly a potential agro-exporter in the world. This research sought to analyse the competitiveness levels of the Romanian agro-export sector through its five most representative products using a competitiveness matrix; as a complement to the analysis, the Revealed Comparative Advantage indicator was used; the information was extracted from the ITC-TradeMap. As general results, Romania evidenced a solid agro-export sector, which manages to compete with the main exporters in the world and even manages to take advantage of different categories of the selected target markets, as is the case of Sunflower Seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reads the emergence of a Romani political space in Jordan, and its containment in the private sphere in Palestine, through Hannah Arendt's classic The Human Condition. In modernity, Arendt argues, political potential has been stifled by a kind of despotism best characterized by a masculine domination associated with the private sphere of the family. Given that such a position is to a great extent based on Arendt's reading of Classical Greek, Roman, early Christian, and Enlightenment thought, what variations to such a neat division can be found in the case of Romani groups in Arab/Islamic contexts that are beyond Arendt's geographic and epistemological scope? This article puts Arendt's idealized notion of the public/private into conversation with the longue durée of settlement and politics of Romani groups in Palestine and Jordan. Working with Arendt and alternate but related notions of the public/private in the Middle East, this article aims to offer a nuanced understanding of kinship and politics in a context in which the political is incomplete without the private. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the spectral as a conceptual metaphor, we explore narratives within Sweden's welfare institutions and policy discourses surrounding vulnerable EU citizens. We aim to provide a new understanding of vulnerable EU citizens as the social ghosts of our time by exploring how the concept of the social ghost and hauntology can be used to perform ethical critique of social injustice. By excavating examples from already gathered material, we explore the unseen within the already seen to critically examine how vulnerable EU citizens are constructed in social welfare narratives. We argue that the terminology of vulnerable EU citizens not only is constructed as uncanny and abject but also as social ghosts, denied a social and political identity and forced to haunt the margins of societal life. Moreover, we argue that the Swedish state becomes a site for necropolitical power, enabling but also perpetuating lingering violent effects on Roma people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his paper the author summarizes the research of Roman Pannonia in the recent decades, mainly after 1986 when Pavel Oliva edited his volume of the series Tabula Imperii Romani, He examined the most important historical and administrative events of the province. Kovács also delt with the new historical monographs that studied the entire history or administration of Pannonia and the most important towns. The author separately examined the new epigraphic works, corpora and the new inscribed finds. In the last part of his paper he delt with the new archaeological discoveries from Brigetio to Sirmium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miguel de Cervantes had firsthand experience with spying techniques in North Africa, first as a captive in Algiers and later as a royal envoy on a secret mission in Oran. In this paper, I examine how the author articulated his knowledge on espionage in "La gitanilla" ("The Little Gypsy") (1613). Firstly, I propose that, by 1610, Cervantes found himself in an auspicious geopolitical context to bring to light, in the fictional realm, his knowledge on intelligence. Secondly, I argue that, in his novella, a group of Gypsy girls reveal practices and skills commonly associated with real seventeenth-century spies. Also, I claim that Preciosa and Andrés can be understood as ideal informants. In this way, I conclude that, although Cervantes had little direct participation in the Spanish intelligence services, his proximity has left important traces on his fictional work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the ascriptive aspects of the identification of Roma in North Macedonia. It tends to provide a shorter review of the national movement and ascriptive identity references important for Roma People, as well as it relays upon data from the doctoral dissertation research, “Ethnic minority politics and conflict management: The political participation of Roma in the Republic of North Macedonia” defended on February 1st, 2024, at the Philosophy Faculty in Skopje. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Philologia is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

"Rain of Ash: Roma, Jews, and the Holocaust" by Ari Joskowicz explores the history and experiences of Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust. The book challenges the denial and silencing of Romani victims' history and memory, highlighting the systematic targeting, deportation, and extermination of the Romani people by the Nazis. It also examines the complex relationships and hierarchies between Romani and Jewish persecution, shedding light on instances of victim support as well as instances of violence and turning against each other. The author emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity of all victims and the need to break enduring hierarchies in historical narratives and education. [Extracted from the article]

Alcohol is widely used in many cultures as part of everyday life and for special occasions. It is a leading cause of preventable death in the UK, with higher rates among socioeconomically disadvantaged people. Gypsies and Travellers are ethnic and cultural minorities who experience extreme social disadvantage but there is a lack of knowledge about their alcohol use. The study aim was to explore experiences of alcohol use and harm in these distinct groups. Taking a participatory research approach, peer researchers conducted semistructured interviews (n = 26) to explore experiences of alcohol use and harm within the following four Gypsy/Traveller communities: Irish Travellers, Boaters, Gypsies, and Slovakian Roma. Vignettes were used as a basis for interview questions. Data were analysed thematically following the framework model. Alcohol consumption was found to be fundamental to celebration in all groups and integrated within social norms. Among Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Roma, drinking was associated with masculinity and despite an increase in alcohol use among women, female drinking remains highly socially regulated. Gypsies and Irish Travellers reported being illegally excluded from public drinking venues, while Slovakian Roma experienced less discrimination towards their ethnic group in the UK. Knowledge of the risks of alcohol dependence was high in all groups, but there was little awareness of the health impact of regular heavy drinking. Shame was a barrier to help-seeking for Gypsy, Roma, and Irish Traveller men and women, while Boaters' nomadism reduced access to both primary care and alcohol treatment services. These distinct ethnic and cultural groups are aware of the health and social risks of alcohol use but experience barriers to accessing healthcare. Each community has different needs in relation to prevention of alcohol dependence, highlighting the need for targeted health promotion to accompany national strategies to reduce alcohol harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Social movement theory argues that activist movements emerge when the political opportunity structure is favorable. This article contributes to the literature on social movements and minority activism by showing that individual‐level activism happens even without a favorable opportunity structure. Methods: The legal journal Rechtsprechung zum Wiedergutmachungsrecht (Case Law on Reparations Legislation), published from 1949 to 1981, reported on West German courts' decisions about reparations claims appeals. All issues were examined for decisions on reparations claims appeals that Romani Germans submitted regarding West Germany's 1953 federal reparations law, despite the unfavorable political opportunity structure. The number of these appeals is reported, and select cases are discussed. Results: Every time a Romani claimant appealed a denied reparations claim, they were, according to feminist definitions of everyday activism, committing an act of activism. Such appeals appear repeatedly in the Rechtsprechung zum Wiedergutmachungsrecht, demonstrating that if scholars look for activism at an individual level, not a group level, evidence shows that members of marginalized minority groups engage in activism regardless of the political opportunity structure. Conclusions: These findings show that, if individual‐level activism is included in scholarly analyses, it becomes apparent that minority activism occurs even when the political opportunity structure is unfavorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misrecognition describes everyday practices that deny the autonomy of minority members to define who they are and instead impose identities that may diverge from their own sense of self. Being misrecognized is particularly relevant for the historically marginalized Roma people, whose national belonging is repeatedly questioned despite centuries of co‐existence and citizenship. Our aim was to understand whether the experience of misrecognition, along with discrimination, would predict identification patterns that represent an obstacle to dual identification among Roma people in three East‐Central European countries: Hungary, Romania and Serbia. We collected data among Roma participants online and face‐to‐face with convenience sampling (N = 1,325). Latent class analysis revealed three similar classes based on national and ethnic identification scores in all subsamples: (1) disidentification, (2) Roma identification and (3) dual identification. Logistic regression analysis showed that misrecognition and discrimination predicted stronger Roma identity than dual identification in Hungary and Serbia. However, misrecognition predicted stronger dual identification in Romania, possibly as a reaffirmation strategy in response to misrecognition. Our results show that misrecognition can add to our understanding of minority group members' identification with the superordinate category of the nation as well as subgroup ethnic minority identity, and this connection could be key for advancing Roma inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siblings compete for limited parental resources, which can result in a trade-off between family size and child growth outcomes. Welfare incentives may improve parental circumstances in large families by compensating for the additional costs of an extra child and increasing the resources available to a family. The improvements in conditions may influence parents to increase their investment, expecting greater returns from the investment in child survival and development, while in turn increase sibling competition for the investment. This study assessed whether welfare benefits have influenced parental investment trade-offs and competition between siblings among Serbian Roma, a population largely dependent on welfare. Using data from the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6, this study assessed the associations between maternal investment, child cash benefits, sibship size, and child anthropometry, as an indicator of health, among 1096 Serbian Roma children aged 0 to 59 months. Living in a small family benefited Roma children, while the incentives increased competition between siblings. Maternal investment was negatively associated with incentives, as the improvements brought about were insufficient to influence a change in maternal perceptions about the local setting uncertainty and thus promote an increase in investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, the Romani in Slovakia identified with the prevailing religion, mainly with the Roman Catholic Church. However, the missionary activities of various Christian denominations after 1990 resulted in the conversion of the Romani to Pentecostal Christian communities. This launched a long, creative process of the formation of Pentecostal Romani music. Romani believers consider music and the ability to play and sing to be a gift from God and view these as a form of prayer that should serve for the praise of God. That is why many have given up their worldly music making and now play only praise songs. They gradually modified the hymns they borrowed and replaced them with their own creations. The soundscape of religion does not lie only in religious singing and music, as the emotional sermons and prayers, glossolalia and sounds during the healing and blessing rituals can also be considered religious sounds. During the worship services, this mixture of various sounds leads to the gradual spiritual and emotional unification of the community. The music and the rituals create feelings of intense sensory and emotional character that reflect in bodily expressions. Movements, dance, and the positions of the hands can help glorify God and experience the worship service more intensely. However, under certain circumstances, they might become sources of temptation and sin. This is related to the concepts of "purity" and "impurity". The premises, whether sacral or profane, interior or exterior ones, also play a significant role in creating the sound. In writing this paper, I have also drawn on my own research on Romani Christian songs, which I carried out in (2012–2013 in Eastern Slovakia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Roma living in marginalized communities often face poor living conditions and material deprivation, which may negatively impact parenting. Our aim is to compare the parenting behavior (support, harsh discipline, and stimulation) of mothers from marginalized Roma communities and the majority population in Slovakia. We also examine the role of socioeconomic disadvantage and related worries in the differences in parenting behavior between these groups. Methods: We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers of children aged 14-18 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study dataset. Two groups were included in the sample: 93 mothers from MRCs and 102 mothers from the majority. We performed multiple regression and mediation analyses to assess whether the educational level of mothers, the degree of poverty, and poverty-related feelings of stress and worries explain parenting behavior differences between the groups of mothers. Results: We found significant differences in parenting, especially in harsh disciplining and stimulation. These two domains were significantly associated with maternal education, degree of poverty, and poverty-related stress and worries. The degree of poverty partially mediated stimulation differences between the two groups of mothers. Conclusion: Parenting in MRCs seems harsher and less stimulative than parenting in the Slovak majority. These differences are associated with the socioeconomic disadvantage of mothers. The degree of poverty partially explains why parenting in MRCs is less stimulative. These results may inform intervention efforts aimed at disadvantaged families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magic and fortune-telling have been standard elements in stereotypes about Europe's Romani minorities since the fifteenth century. These stereotypes produced two mutually contradictory images of the Roma: That they possess real occult powers, and that they are frauds. Both images were perpetuated by nineteenth-century 'gypsylorist' scholarship, which construed 'the gypsies' as Europe's internal Orientals. This article demonstrates that the most influential gypsylorist author on magic, the folklorist Charles Godfrey Leland (1824–1903), sought to harmonize the two images through a new theory of magical efficacy – building on established work in folklore as well as his own life-long engagement with esotericism. Leland's alignment with occultism is a textbook example of the entanglements of esotericism and scholarship in the period. Seeing occultism as a constitutive context for gypsylorist speculation on 'gypsy magic' sheds new light on the history of Romani studies and helps explain the perpetuation of anti-gypsy stereotypes in alternative spirituality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the assembly of two complete sorghum genomes, BTx623 and Ji2055, which have corrected errors in the current reference genome and provided valuable insights into centromere variation. Sorghum is an important crop that serves as a staple food for millions of people and provides feed, fiber, and biofuel globally. The T2T assemblies were generated using advanced sequencing technologies and were found to be highly accurate and complete. These high-quality genomes can be used as reference genomes for further research and genetic improvement of sorghum. [Extracted from the article]

The site known as Lipnica is a segregated Roma settlement built on the edge of a municipal landfill in the district town of Turčany, central Slovakia (fictitious names have been used for the site and the town). The settlement emerged as a result of processes rooted in neoliberal economic restructuring, accompanied by a sharp rise in unemployment in the 1990s. The settlement was originally built to provide temporary housing for those who were in arrears for rent in municipal flats, and originally consisted of one apartment building and several modular cabins. In the following years it expanded, and today it is an ethnic quasi-ghetto for approximately 400 Roma inhabitants. From a theoretical perspective, an analysis of the Lipnica settlement is situated at the intersection of critical race theory and environmental justice theory. In this article, we describe the trajectory leading to the formation of the settlement and analyse how the impoverishment of the Roma, coupled with the construction of the community as 'maladjusted' anti-social others, facilitated their spatial exclusion. We conclude that the case demythologises culturising explanations for the emergence of Roma settlements, by using empirical data to show how Lipnica developed as a result of intentional discriminatory policies of the local ruling class used against an ethnic minority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While previous studies have investigated the role of YouTube videos in producing and representing tourist destinations, they have rarely focused on how social media influencers (SMIs) frame specific destinations. SMIs constitute significant contributors to destination image, yet tourism scholars have not fully explored their persuasive power in framing destinations and affecting potential travellers. This article explores how Iran is framed as a travel destination by SMIs on YouTube by utilizing visual framing theory. As a country subject to both unfavourable framing by Western mainstream media and positive images by SMIs and YouTubers, Iran represents an interesting case study as a destination produced in the cyberworld with multiple and contrasting images and representations. Methodologically, the study integrates netnography and narrative analysis to examine the content of ten travel videos produced by international SMIs. The analysis and interpretation of the visual material unveil the multiple ways of framing Iran by SMIs, which tend to humanize Iran and Iranians, emphasize the country's culture and history, and attribute the misconceptions and fear about Iran to the current global and local political climate. Theoretically, this study advances our understanding of destination image through visual framing theory, which has rarely been applied to explore travel videos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to compare selected early childhood health risks and health outcomes of children from marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia with those of the majority. Methods: We obtained cross-sectional data from mother-child dyads from the majority (N = 109) and MRCs (N = 143) via questionnaires and from medical records. Socioeconomic status, health risks and health outcomes were compared using chisquare and Mann-Whitney U tests in SPSS. Results: Mothers from MRCs reported significantly worse socioeconomic status. Air quality in the households in MRCs was significantly worse, affected by heating with stoves, burning fresh wood and indoor smoking. The diet composition of children from MRCs was characterized by shorter breastfeeding and unhealthy diet composition less fresh fruits and vegetables, more processed meat products, and sweet and salty snacks. Children from MRCs more often suffered from respiratory and diarrheal diseases, used antibiotics and were hospitalized. Conclusion: The health and healthy development of children living in MRCs is endangered by various poverty-related factors. Persistent differences in exposures and health in early childhood should be a priority goal of the state's social and health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]