Speaking Out against the Discrimination of Romanians Abroad: An Analysis of Parliamentary Speeches in the Home Country

Abstract

Discrimination against minority ethnic groups has often been analyzed through the lenses of institutional action, antiminority rhetoric, and media framing in the countries of residence. However, we know little about how ethnic discrimination is approached in the home countries of these minorities. To address this gap in the literature, our article seeks to explain how Romanian parliamentarians address discrimination against coethnics abroad. We use inductive thematic analysis conducted on all of the parliamentary speeches about the discrimination of coethnics abroad in the Chamber of Deputies between 2008 and 2020. Our results indicate a relatively high degree of descriptive representation and an extensive concern about discrimination of coethnics abroad from parliamentarians across the political spectrum. The speeches about discrimination differ in content relative to the coethnic community of reference.

Political Professionalization Beyond National Borders: An Analysis of Italian MPs in Overseas Constituencies

“…Furthermore, a second body of literature has directed its focus towards the representation of communities abroad. This aspect holds particular relevance, as the establishment of parliamentary representation can serve as a means of maintaining a link or connection (Proksch & Slapin, 2015) while also expressing the home country's interest towards the community abroad (Gherghina et al, 2023). Broadly speaking, the literature has outlined diverse strategies to establish community representation in foreign locales.…”

Securitizing the nation beyond the state: diasporas as threats, victims, and assets

“…In other instances in the post-Soviet sphere, such discourse does not necessarily include direct violations of sovereignty by the kin-state. In the Romanian case, parliament members often warn against the discrimination and persecution of Romanians abroad, and the violation of their human rights, but resort to diplomatic and regional means to address these issues (Gherghina et al, 2022).…”