Unwanted Others of the City: Counter-Cultural Production of the Roma People of Urla-Turkey

ABSTRACT

This article examines a case of urban displacement and its impact on the local Roma community by uncovering the discursive strategies of the local governments and the tactical responses of the local people. Based on two-year-long ethnographic research, this study aims to understand the intricate dynamics of the counter-cultural production of the Roma people as a response to gentrification policies of local governments. The rapid rise of the rent value of land has motivated the capital class to force an exile strategy on Roma and accelerated existing segregation policies. During this time, some discursive strategies to manufacture public consent about the gentrification have circulated to change the representation of the Roma identity, replacing their imagery in mainstream society by mainly signifying them as the undeserving poor. This research aims to understand how strategic discourses and actions have positioned Roma in the societal and cultural sphere and in response, how everyday tactics of the Roma engenders counter-cultural forms through intercultural communication.

KEYWORDS:

• Roma
• gentrification
• undeserving poor
• subalternity
• intercultural communication

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ozan Uştuk

Ozan Uştuk is an Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and the coordinator of Civic Involvement Projects at İzmir Institute of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Communication Sciences from Hacettepe University in Turkey, conducting ethnographic fieldwork among a Roma community living in a hyper-ghetto neighbourhood. His research focused on housing, education and labour market relations. Subsequently, he worked as an Applied Research Fellow at the Central European University Romani Studies Program. Ozan Uştuk holds an M.Sc. in Anthropology and a B.A. in Sociology. His research interests include intercultural communication, cultural identity, social inclusion and urban studies.