The Romani Opening in Turkey: Antidiscrimination?

Abstract

This study is a critical analysis of the Romani Opening in Turkey that was initiated by the government in the late 2009 as a project aiming to end discrimination against Roma in Turkey. Although this is a very important move considering the longlasting ignorance of the problems of Roma in Turkey, there are important problems related with the presentation of the project and discussions revolving around it. As an outcome of these problems this project has become a case where one can observe how antidiscrimination initiatives/strategies/policies can be discriminatory in their implementation. This study also argues that this paradoxical situation can only be figured out by reflection on the notion of power. A reflection on power, in turn, will necessarily lead to a re-thinking on democracy.