Europeanized hypocrisy: Roma inclusion and exclusion in central and eastern Europe

This article reflects on the outcome of Europeanization to date as it relates to Roma in Central and Eastern Europe, and seeks to explain the inherently contradictory policies and practices towards this population in the new EU member states today. It explores these policies and practices in five countries and argues that the EU’s promotion of, and support for, improvements in the situation of Roma—alongside exclusionary practices in “old” EU member states and pre-existing attitudes in new members—has resulted in an incompatible mix of policies and practices that supports both inclusion and exclusion. Given this situation, continued EU pressure to improve the situation of Roma is unlikely, by itself, to bring about transformative change.