Race and Populist Radical Right Discourses: Implications for Roma Education Policy in Hungary

Abstract

Non-government organizations and policy makers agree that the best route to eradicating the widespread discrimination and poverty among the Roma is to improve the quality of and access to education. A cursory glance at the Hungarian Government website suggests that policy makers are on top of the problem with good laws and initiatives in place. Yet, indicators from non-government groups and academics suggest the situation remains bleak for the Roma, and practices such as the segregation of Roma school children persist. Progressive change in Hungary first requires a serious confrontation of the widespread and deeply ingrained racism against the Roma. This paper makes no attempt at such an ambition; however, the paper aims to begin acknowledging the role race plays in populist radical right discourses about education policies in Hungary using a discourse analysis method informed by Critical Race Theory. The paper advances two arguments. First, there is a mismatch between official policy and actual progress on Roma education. Second, an examination of how populist radical right discourses about the Roma are racialized provides insight into why there is a mismatch.