Social Polarization and Economic Inequality: An Analysis of the Impact of Communist and Capitalist Policies on the Quality of Life of the Romani Community in Southern Muntenia
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Jun 24, 2025
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Abstract
This paper aims to provide an analysis of the social policies implemented in Romania in order to manage the Roma minority issue before and after the 1989 Revolution. Its main goal is to investigate whether Romania had a better social integration system put in place as to enable addressing the Roma minority issue during communism or afterwards. Today, the Romani community is dealing with systemic ethnic discrimination that brings about issues like poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. The lack of financial resources needed in order to survive in capitalism makes it hard for low-income families to ensure decent living conditions for themselves and their children. Negative attitudes towards the Romani affect their access to healthcare, counsel, education, and housing as they become systematically excluded from the social life of the majority and are made into outsiders in their own country. Thus, this study means to show the perspective of the Romani on the issue and how they feel the fall of communism has impacted their community by further exploring certain dimensions of social life in Romania - education, housing, and labour dynamics.
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How to Cite
Pandele, M. (2025). Social Polarization and Economic Inequality: An Analysis of the Impact of Communist and Capitalist Policies on the Quality of Life of the Romani Community in Southern Muntenia. Sociologie Românească, 23(1), 93-120. https://doi.org/10.33788/sr.23.1.5
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Zamfir, E., & Zamfir, C. (1993). Gypsies between ignorance and concern. Bucharest: Alternative Publishing House.
Burtea, V. (2016). The Romanies – In the synchrony and diachrony of the contact populations. Bucharest: National Centre for Roma Culture.
Connerton, P. (1989). How societies remember. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Council of Europe. (n.d.). Roma inclusion in Romania. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/roma-eu/roma-inclusion-eu-country/roma-inclusion-romania_en
Djurić, R., Becken, J., & Bengsch, A. B. (1996). Ohne Heim – Ohne Grab. Die Geschichte der Sinti und Roma. [City missing]: [Publisher missing].
Du Bois, W. E. B. (1903). The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches. [City missing]: [Publisher missing].
Duminică, G., Preoteasa, A. M., & Cace, S. (2009). Strategia națională de îmbunătățire a situației romilor: Vocea comunităților. Bucharest: Expert. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316239103
European Commission. (n.d.). Romania national Roma strategy. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/roma_romania_strategy_en.pdf
European Commission. (n.d.). Roma: Education situation in 11 EU member states – Survey summary. Available at https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2014-roma-survey-dif-education_ro.pdf
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). (2019). Report on Romania. Council of Europe.
European Roma Rights Centre. (2007). Stigmata: Segregated schooling of Roma in Central and Eastern Europe. Budapest: ERRC.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2020). Roma: What discrimination do they face and what does the EU do? European Parliament. Available at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20200918STO87401/roma-what-discrimination-do-they-face-and-what-does-eu-do
Fundamental Rights Agency. (2014). Education: The situation of Roma in 11 EU member states. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Available at https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2014/education-situation-roma-11-eu-member-states
Gagiu, N. (2018). Discourses and practices of social integration of the Roma in Romania. Bucharest: University of Bucharest.
Guy, W. (Ed.). (2007). The socio-economic situation of the Roma in Central and Eastern Europe. Bristol: University of Bristol.
Hage, G. (2016). Recalling anti-racism. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 39(1), 123-133.
Hyde, A. (2006). Systemic exclusion of Roma from employment. [City missing]: [Publisher missing].
Law, I. (2012). Red racisms: Racism in communist and post-communist contexts. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Lucero, F., & Column, J. (2007). The Roma during and after communism. In Topical Research Digest: Human Rights in Russia and the Former Soviet Republics, 98-106.
Marin, M. (Ed.). (2017). Romii și regimul comunist din România: Marginalizare, integrare și opoziție. Cluj-Napoca: Mega.
Marushiakova, E., & Popov, V. (2008). Historical and cultural aspects of Roma identity: The case of Bulgaria. Sofia: University of Sofia.
Marushiakova, E., & Popov, V. (2013). State policies towards Roma/Gypsies under communism. Social Inclusion, 1(1), 88-99.
Open Society Foundations. (2015). Roma inclusion in education: Challenges and best practices. Available at https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/roma-inclusion-education-challenges-and-best-practices
Open Society Foundations. (2020). Romania: A baseline study on poverty and social exclusion of Roma.
Silverman, C. (1995). Persecution and politicization: Roma (Gypsies) of Eastern Europe. Cultural Survival Quarterly, 19(2). Available at https://www.culturalsurvival.org
Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality. (n.d.). Professor William Julius Wilson lecture. [Video resource].
Stănescu, S. (2014). Statul bunăstării între supraviețuire, reformă și integrare europeană. Iași: Polirom.
UNICEF. (1997). The situation of the family and child in Romania. Romanian Government.
UNICEF. (2011). The right of Roma children to education: Position paper. UNICEF CEE/CIS Regional Office. Available at https://www.unicef.org/ceecis/The_Right_of_Roma_Children_to_Education_-_Position_Paper.pdf
Varga, F. (2023). Roma children's school segregation as a persistent public educational system issue in Romania. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12194.50888/1
Vincze, E., et al. (2023). The making of a racialized surplus population in post-socialist Romania. [City missing]: [Publisher missing].
Wilson, W. J. (1996). When work disappears: The world of the new urban poor. [City missing]: [Publisher missing].
World Bank. (2012). Toward an equal start: Closing the early learning gap for Roma children in Eastern Europe. The World Bank Group. Available at https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/11921
YouTube. (n.d.). Roma-related video resource. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deI1sq17VTI
Zamfir, C. (2000). Poverty in transition. Bucharest: Polirom.
Zamfir, E., & Zamfir, C. (1993). Gypsies between ignorance and concern. Bucharest: Alternative Publishing House.