Causes of Social Marginalisation: The Role of Social Mobility Barriers for Roma

Abstract

The present paper studies causes of Roma marginalisation, in particular, the role of social mobility barriers. We have identified two types of the social mobility barriers for Roma: the cost of exit from the traditional Roma community and the cost of entry into the mainstream society. Our findings suggest that the existing policy and academic debate on marginalisation of Roma has been focused almost exclusively on the entry barriers, whereas the exit barriers have been acknowledged and studied to a much lesser extent. In this study we advocate that from a policy perspective it is important to acknowledge and understand that the two types of social mobility barriers – the cost of exit from the traditional Roma society and the cost of entry into the mainstream society – have different causes and hence have to be addressed differently. It is also important that both types of the social mobility barriers are addressed simultaneously, as they interact and reinforce each other mutually. Third, as regards the entry barriers into the mainstream society, most of the currently implemented policy measures are aimed at reducing the indirect discrimination. However, in order to be successful and sustainable, the Roma integration policy needs to address also the direct discrimination by the mainstream population.