PhD. Topics

Social Representations of Roma in Dominant Non-Roma Discourses – Social Exclusion and Inclusion

Slovak History

2025

Ladislav Vörös, PhD.

Contact:

Faculty of Arts, Comenius University Bratislava

The dissertation project focuses on examining the representation of Roma during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The research will primarily analyze the discourse produced by representatives of state authorities and political and social movements, including minority nationalist movements. The central aim of the thesis is to investigate social categorizations and stereotypical constructions related to ascribed social roles and statuses, particularly concerning the perceived civilizational and cultural level of the Roma population. Special emphasis will be placed on exploring the continuity and discontinuity of these social representations and individual themes across different state structures, regimes, and the broader context of nation-building policies. Additionally, the research will examine how dominant social representations were perceived by the Roma population and how these perceptions influenced both assimilationist and emancipatory projects initiated by Roma and non-Roma intelligentsia. The precise scope and focus of the project will be further refined during the first semester of study. The first two semesters will include an exploration of theories of nationalism and nationalist political movements in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as engagement with theories of discourse and critical discourse analysis methodologies.
Requirements: Proficiency in Slovak/Czech, Hungarian, and English (minimum B2 level); knowledge of German is considered an advantage.