The Roma of Belgrade and Racialized Urban Space in post-Socialist Europe

Keywords: informal settlements, urban geography, Roma, environmental racism, environmental justice, post-Socialist housing
Abstract Type: Lightning Paper Abstract

Abstract

The Roma people of Belgrade, Serbia continue to face discrimination, largely in the form of substandard or informal housing. In 2009, a settlement of over 170 Roma families was destroyed and individuals forcibly resettled from under the newly constructed Gazela Bridge. Despite some alternative housing and a resettlement plan, many individuals found the government's response to this action entirely inadequate and brought to light many of the issues that Roma people continue to face in Serbia. This discussion is largely framed by recent developments in Serbia as well, including its changing economic landscape as a result of its post-Socialist transition and globalism. Additionally, environmental racism as a result of increased air pollution in Belgrade is an additional factor in the quality of life for Roma people who live in substandard housing. In this paper, I will provide an overview of the current literature on Roma informal settlements in Serbia, as well as a theoretical framing of informal settlements and processes of racialization in space in Eastern Europe more broadly. I hope to lay the groundwork for future ethnographic work which focuses on understanding how the Roma identity relates to their political struggle for better infrastructure and the politics of self-determination.