Constructing Identities over Time

Jekatyerina Dunajeva explores how two dominant stereotypes-"e;bad Gypsies"e; and "e;good Roma"e;-took hold in formal and informal educational institutions in Russia and Hungary. She shows that over centuries "e;Gypsies"e; came to be associated with criminality, lack of education, and backwardness. The second notion, of proud, empowered, and educated "e;Roma,"e; is a more recent development. By identifying five historical phases pre-modern, early-modern, early and ripe communism, and neomodern nation-building the book captures crucial legacies that deepen social divisions and normalize the constructed group images. The analysis of the state-managed Roma identity project in the brief korenizatsija program for the integration of non-Russian nationalities into the Soviet civil service in the 1920s is particularly revealing, while the critique of contemporary endeavors is a valuable resource for policy makers and civic activists alike. The top-down view is complemented with the bottom-up attention to everyday Roma voices. Personal stories reveal how identities operate in daily life, as Dunajeva brings out hidden narratives and subaltern discourse. Her handling of fieldwork and self-reflexivity is a model of sensitive research with vulnerable groups.