Power and Hierarchy among Finnish Kaale Roma: Insights on Integration and Inclusion Processes

Marko Stenroos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Despite the vast research on Roma in Europe and beyond, little has been written about Roma agency from a perspective that focuses on manifold dynamics of power. Having worked for two years on the Finnish Roma Inclusion Project in a dual role as ethnographer and project worker has inspired me to rethink concepts of power and to create an alternative narrative of the experience of marginalized and discriminated Finnish Kaale Roma. Encouraged by the current paradigm shift in Romani Studies (which increasingly focuses on Roma agency instead of objectifying the population), this paper explores Kaale power dynamics as part of the social order and empirically demonstrates two parallel and antagonist systems of power exercised by Roma: one that stems from the population’s traditional cultural customs and the other from Pentecostal/charismatic Christianity, agrowing trend among the Finnish Kaale. The purpose of this article is to underline Roma agency within the frame of national Roma policy practices in Finland.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCritical Romani Studies
Volume1
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)6-23
Number of pages18
ISSN2630-855X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Dec 2018
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

  • 5200 Other social sciences

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