Paper short abstract:

The paper questions the hegemonic concept of nomadism through which Italian society conceives Roma’s mobility measuring it against the counter-hegemonic narratives of some Romanian Roma migrants to Italy. These Roma interpret their mobility as a form of transnational migration and not of nomadism.

Paper long abstract:

The equivalence of 'Gypsies', 'Roma' and 'Nomads' is a mainstay of Italian hegemonic narratives regarding Romani groups, constantly reinforced by the rhetoric of the media and politicians as well as social agents in a variety of public roles. The culturalist vision of Roma and Sinti groups living in Italy as 'Nomads' has deeply influenced, and continues to influence, policy implementation towards populations that each have extremely different histories, legal status, socio-cultural and economic conditions. These policies often conceal the practical exclusion of many of these groups from substantial citizenship rights (e.g. access to resources and services).

The aim of this paper is to question the concept of nomadism that Italian society conceives Roma's mobility through, by measuring it against some particular Roma's counter-hegemonic narratives. The paper is based on data from an ethnographic fieldwork with some migrant Romanian Roma families in Southern Italy. An analysis of these Roma's narratives shows that they interpret their mobility as a form of transnational migration and not of nomadism. They are petitioning for their mobility to be considered as included in the framework of migratory movements toward Western Europe that many Romanian citizens have embarked upon since the collapse of the Ceaușescu regime. The analysis also traces some recurring themes in their narratives (e.g. the repeated and predominant desire for a house) that reveal a demand for the deconstruction of the common idea of these Roma as 'Nomadic people'.