Justice in the making

In studies on Roma and Travellers, issues of justice have traditionally been documented through the lens of anthropology, which focuses on analyzing internal conflict resolution mechanisms (Weyrauch W. O. 2001). Beyond the interest and relevance of this work, which has helped to understand the drivers of legal pluralism (Gamela J.F., Muntean V.M. 2014, Okely J. 2005, Acton T.A. 2003), some have contributed to accentuating a criminogenic conception of these groups (Foley A. 2010), while downplaying their agency in rebalancing the power dynamics at work in their relations with non-Roma.

Recent years in France and Europe have been marked by a reconfiguration of the methods used to raise public and media awareness of the prejudice, injustice, and discrimination experienced by Roma and Traveller groups. In this issue, we focus on these processes of engagement, visibility, and the fight for dignity. The idea of “making justice” refers to multiple forms of emancipation that promote recognition (by peers, within communities of belonging, and by the majority society) of abuse, oppression, and arbitrary practices, requiring forms of rehabilitation, whether in the public, social, or private spheres. Roma and Traveller actors and collectives who organize to denounce these forms of injustice exert political pressure that can transform power relations and rebalance their position and representation within institutions themselves. This issue aims to document and analyze these processes at work, whether they are ongoing, have been successful, or have failed, taking into account the socio-historical complexity in which these actors operate, as well as the social, emotional, political, and legal implications they have on an individual and collective scale.

The first area of focus proposes analyzing the micro-political forms of expression of injustices experienced by Roma and traveling communities. The very desire to seek justice manifests itself through physical and emotional postures inherent to situations of oppression or discrimination. Enrolling children in school can be a real challenge when living on the road or in a slum. How do physicality and emotions shape forms of resistance in acts of protest, mediation efforts, or requests made to institutions? How do these expressions sometimes transform into longer-term mobilizations?

Social media now offers a new space for expression that has renewed opportunities for new assertions through direct digital interactions. It allows for the redeployment of endogenous forms of expression, often using derision and humor (Loiseau G. 2015), where previously news reports and press articles offered little political leverage to those most affected. These new media, accessible to all, have made it possible to restart unprecedented processes of speaking out about discrimination, ensuring the development of new political spaces for Roma and Traveller groups. This has allowed more or less media-savvy figures to emerge as whistleblowers or citizen collectives capable of organizing to make their voices heard. This issue will focus on analyzing these processes, which are transforming perceptions of the contemporary realities of Roma and Traveller groups in Europe. +info

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