Abstract:
This workshop will explore the fundamental elements of liberal peacebuilding in relation to Roma, drawing upon Iraq, Kosovo, and Northern Ireland as illustrative case studies. The narrow definition of “peace” upon which liberal peacebuilding architecture is premised fails to recognize multiple forms of violence, whilst reinforcing stigmatization of Roma and Travellers as problematic, defective citizens. This is particularly the case in post-conflict contexts where neoliberalism comprises the ideological foundation of liberal peace, causing poverty to become increasingly ethnicized. Building upon discussion about how liberal peacebuilding works to exclude Roma and Travellers from development and peacebuilding processes, whilst simultaneously reinforcing their status as ‘Other’, this workshop will open up conversation on considerations regarding Ukrainian Roma.