Policies for whom? Roma as ethnic and/or national minorities: the case of Hungary and the European Union

Abstract

Putting legislative policies in focus, this chapter provides a case study of the development and morphology of certain policy measures and frameworks targeting the Roma in Hungary. The analysis also provides a general assessment of the relationship between policy instruments and terminology, that is, definitions and conceptualisations in international and domestic legislation and policies for minority groups. The chapter argues that the conceptualisation of ‘the Roma’ will be completely different when referencing rights holders for minority (cultural) rights, beneficiaries of social inclusion policies, and victims of discrimination. The chapter also argues that the inconsistent labelling of the Roma as an ethnic, racial, and national minority reflects the lack of consistent conceptualisation of whether social inclusion, anti-discrimination, or a cultural rights-oriented approach should dominate policies.