Assessment for Roma in France

Risk Assessment | Analytic Summary | References

Risk Assessment

There is no indication that the Roma in France will become engaged in militant activities. As a group, they are often misrepresented, and different people are amalgamated together and labeled Roma, or Gypsies, Manouches for example. They are unorganized and uninterested in dealing with the French government. There is the possibility for an increase in the levels of protest despite the fact that the group does not possess many of the risk factors that lead to protests, such as repression, cultural and political restrictions, and support from outside groups. The Romani are extremely poor and are excluded from the French society. They are viewed as a marginal sub-class of beggars, thieves and pickpockets who neither work nor pay taxes, and hence do not belong in French society. Also, as is the case elsewhere, the prejudices against the Roma in France fuel the social conditions that lead to the justifications for those prejudices. Recently these prejudices have entered the political arena through various right-wing parties. If the Roma face increased discrimination, and potentially repression, protests may begin. While it is possible that protests may begin, it appears that the Roma throughout Europe prefer to move to a new location when repression or discrimination become intolerable rather than to stay and protest their situation.

Analytic Summary

The Roma (called Tsiganes in French) first arrived in France in the early 1400s (TRADITN = 1) and have since spread throughout the country looking for the best possible economic opportunities and to avoid harassment and discrimination (MIGRANT = 7). As a result the Roma are spread throughout the country (GROUPCON = 0), and they do not form a cohesive group (COHESX9 = 3). Compared to the majority group, the Roma speak a different language (LANG= 2) and follow different customs (CUSTOM = 1). The Roma are easily identifiable due to their different physical appearance (RACE = 3), and it is this racial difference, and the long history of prejudice against the group, which has led to discriminatory treatment.

The Roma currently face moderate demographic disadvantages (DEMSTR03 = 3) due mostly to their very high birth rate in comparison to the rest of France. There has recently been a large influx of Roma from Yugoslavia and other areas of Eastern Europe to France, which has only increased the tension between the group and the majority. Between 2001 and 2003, French authorities have become more vigorous in their efforts to deport illegal Roma immigrants back to Eastern Europe.

The Roma are basically excluded from the French society. Politically they are ignored, and therefore while there are no restrictions against the group, they are not recognized as French citizens (POLDIS03 = 3). The Roma are also excluded economically as well (ECDIS03 = 3), and as a result they are extremely poor. While there are no cultural restrictions, there are also no measures in place to bring them into the society. The problem is not wholly the fault of national government, however. For as long as the Tsiganes remain nomadic and do not pay taxes (a fundamental condition of citizenship) it is difficult to provide them with the same social benefits - such as education and health care - to which other citizens are entitled. Unlike the Roma in other European countries, the French government has left the group alone, and they currently do not face any overt repression. There also has been no reports of communal conflict between the group and with right-wing French or West Africans (COMCON01-03 = 0).

Due to their somewhat nomadic existence and small numbers, there are no organizations which represent the Roma in France specifically. Any lobbying which is done on their behalf is accomplished by international organizations such as the International Union Romani, or the European Roma Rights Center. Both of these organizations attempt to pressure the government to address grievances by the group, and report any repressive activities the Roma face throughout Europe. The Roma in France as mentioned have kept to themselves, and it appears they want as little interaction with the French government as possible. Their only grievances are that it is currently difficult for Romani children to attend schools and that laws on asylum seekers- which many of the Roma arriving from Central and Eastern Europe are claiming to be- are considered by the group as being too rigid.

The Roma have not been engaged in any form of militant activity in the past, and this has carried on to today (REB00-03 = 0). It has only been recently when any form of organized protest has been seen by the group (PROT98 = 2). While there were some religious ceremonies which brought together large numbers of Roma, little protest has been reported in the last several years (PROT00 = 0, PROT01-02 = 1, PROT03 = 0).

References

Lexis-Nexis news reports, 1990 to 2003.