- + Chris Huculiak joined Debatewise
- + Nickdan joined Debatewise
- + Albert Memeti joined Debatewise
- + Suckmyballs7 joined Debatewise
- + Amberxie88 joined Debatewise
- + Danielleclapson joined Debatewise
- + Trnace Paddy joined Debatewise
- + Bopemicy joined Debatewise
- + Operaminifrefly joined Global Youth Panel
- + Michaliam joined Debatewise
- + Awsomesause joined Debatewise
- + Kim Lam joined Debatewise
- + Cashah joined Debatewise
- + Laney joined Debatewise
- + Fakeoakleysv2 joined Debatewise
- + Tanya Athrey joined Debatewise
- + Tot Phinna joined Debatewise
- + J R Read joined Debatewise
- + Middleschoolrocks joined Debatewise
- + Shyparker23 joined Debatewise
- + Operaminifrefly joined Debatewise
- + Snoxiacox joined Debatewise
- + #File Links[C:\Filmonline.Txt,1,S] joined Debatewise
- + Franbxi joined Global Youth Panel
- + Ie Leroy joined Debatewise
- + Ses Greeni joined Debatewise
- + Afrocigana Kalin joined Debatewise
- + Pansy joined Debatewise
- + Pureroma joined Debatewise
- + Pshah joined Debatewise
IS ANTI-ROMA VIOLENCE BECOMING MAINSTREAM IN CONTEMPORARY EUROPE?
"... the mainstream nature of anti-Roma violence in many parts of Europe became so obvious that it could no longer be plausibly denied. A rising tide of aggression in Europe threatens the security of Roma and non-Roma alike and withers the learned policy documents, anti-discrimination projects and myriad initiatives to lift Roma people out of poverty. Even those who abhor this violence can fall victim to the callous pieties which abet hatred ... In this solution-free zone, Roma outrage at the intellectual dishonesty of political leaders, is as palpable as the contempt for civil society organisations which ignore the necessity of Roma contributions to improvement programmes in Roma communities." - Robert Rustem, Executive Secretary of the European Roma and Travellers Forum.
Is anti-Roma violence becoming mainstream in contemporary Europe?
Yes, because... Our worst enemy right now is populism...
"Our worst enemy right now is populism... When the pace of economic growth is too slow for too long and fears about the future become too high, we are entering dangerous territory." - Corrado Passero, Italy’s minister of economic development, at recent conference of top European leaders and economists at the French ministry of economics.
______________
Populism is preparing the ground for the violence. Humanity has already learned the lessons of 1930-s in Europe...
While populism may indeed be a problem this does not mean that anti-roma violence is or will become mainstream, this would require a very large shift in public perceptions. In no country in Europe is any form of violence 'mainstream' or popular, discrimination may become so with a resulting increase in violence but it seems unlikely that in any country will violence become accepted practice. Corrado is right to be concerned but this does not mean his comments should be taken the way the debate seems to take them.
Vote on this point: Our worst enemy right now is populism...
See history of changes to this point
Is anti-Roma violence becoming mainstream in contemporary Europe?
Yes, because... Misusing the national card
"We [Hungary] are moving toward a one-party ruling system in which the prime minister and his little circle are trying to sell 19th-century romantic nationalism... Many people are buying that. It is true that normal national ideas were missing during the communist period. But the prime minister is now misusing the national card." - Peter Balazs, a former Hungarian foreign minister.
This again is hyperbole, yes the prime minister is increasingly dictatorial but as with other prime ministers that have made power grabs in modern democracies his popularity is plummeting.
[1]Vote on this point: Misusing the national card
See history of changes to this point
Vote on this debate: Is anti-Roma violence becoming mainstream in contemporary Europe?
Modified:
17 Jan 2012
Point 1. Our worst enemy right now is populism...
"Our worst enemy right now is populism... When the pace of economic growth is too slow for too long and fears about the future become too high, we are entering dangerous territory." - Corrado Passero, Italy’s minister of economic development, at recent conference of top European leaders and economists at the French ministry of economics.
While populism may indeed be a problem this does not mean that anti-roma violence is or will become mainstream, this would require a very large shift in public perceptions. In no country in Europe is any form of violence 'mainstream' or popular, discrimination may become so with a resulting increase in violence but it seems unlikely that in any country will violence become accepted practice. Corrado is right to be concerned but this does not mean his comments should be taken the way the debate seems to take them.
Point 2. Misusing the national card
"We [Hungary] are moving toward a one-party ruling system in which the prime minister and his little circle are trying to sell 19th-century romantic nationalism... Many people are buying that. It is true that normal national ideas were missing during the communist period. But the prime minister is now misusing the national card." - Peter Balazs, a former Hungarian foreign minister.
This again is hyperbole, yes the prime minister is increasingly dictatorial but as with other prime ministers that have made power grabs in democracies his popularity is plummeting. [quote=reuters]Having lost nearly half its supporters since the 2010 election [where he got two thirds of the vote], public support for Orban's Fidesz party dropped by another two percentage points to 16 percent in January from December, an Ipsos poll published last week found. Of those polled, 57 percent said they had no party preference and a staggering 84 percent said the country was on the wrong track.,/quote][1]