Paper short abstract:

Nomadism, as celebration or stigma, controversially divides Gypsy/Traveller groups in N. Europe from Roma groups associated with S. and E. Europe. One embracing movement and mobile homes against housing. The other long sedentarised, when moving, become self-labelled migrants expecting fixed housing.

Paper long abstract:

Throughout much the world, nomadism is stereotyped, controlled, if not persecuted. Gypsies, derived from 'Egyptians', once a label for all migrants to Britain, adopt the title, identifying as nomadic ethnic groups in England and Wales. Elsewhere, Gypsies in California, have moved regularly and seasonally, albeit to and from rented accommodation, disguising their ethnicity from landlords and customers. Today, 'nomadism', as cultural category, is being used to distinguish and divide Gypsy/Traveller groups located for centuries in Northern Europe from others, often labelled Roma, especially in Southern or Eastern Europe. Before communist intervention, unique service nomads, such as Roma, exploited movement for politico/economic reward and cultural semi-autonomy.

Subsequently, as victims of enforced state settlement and factory labour, Roma risked criminalisation if found secretly travelling, let alone as self-employed 'capitalists' trading goods. Many were subject to greater movement control than non-Roma. Post-communism, most Roma have rarely experienced nomadic lifestyles. Many, suffering poverty in ghettos and racist isolation, after nations such as Romania and Slovakia were incorporated, have embraced the EU ideal of 'free movement' for migrants. Then nomadism as stigma is experienced and internalised.

By contrast, UK Gypsies/Travellers had longer retained nomadic lifestyles under capitalism. But from 1994, nomadic preferences were massively destroyed. Legislation requiring official Gypsy site provision abolished, the Gypsies limited their movements. Thus agriculture, once dependent on Gypsies' seasonal labour, exploits cheap foreign migrants. Meanwhile, Gypsy/Traveller groups, housed against their will at huge welfare cost, have not internalised stigmas of nomadism. The latter is celebrated and yearned for.