Review article
THE PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ROMA MINORITY IN THE FIELD MEĐIMURJE COUNTY
Mihael Tomšić
; University North, Varaždin, Croatia
Ljubica Bakić-Tomić
; University North, Varaždin, Croatia
Abstract
In the Republic of Croatia many important issues depend on the perception of the public including the issue of national minorities. The aim of the research is to determine the perception of the Croatian public about the Roma minority in the Međimurje County in which concerning the census of 2011, the third of Croatian Roma reside. The study was conducted by creating online surveys, voluntary type. For the purpose of the study author’s questionnaire is made, and is distributed by e-mail and posted on Facebook significant groups of tens of thousands of members within Croatia. An interesting fact is that within 24 hours the questionnaire approached 500 people, which is evidence of the great interest of the population of Međimurje County in the subject of the Roma minority. The results indicate that there is a gap in the relations between Croats and Roma in Međimurje County. However, also indicate that this gap is not insurmountable with mutual understanding and acceptance of cultural differences and acceptance of basic cultural norms and Croatian law. Furthermore, the results suggest the absence of discrimination on ethnic grounds. With their specific cultural elements Roma build and maintain the ethnic border towards the Croats, complicating and reducing the possibility of their own integration. The largest obstacle to the integration of the Roma is a significant spatial segregation at the local level. Although the results suggest that the majority of respondents believe that relations between the two groups will not improve, they are willing to co-existence and common action in order to improve relations.
Keywords
Roma; Croats; Medjimurje; public perception; culture; diversity
Hrčak ID:
149022
URI
Publication date:
15.10.2015.
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