Propaganda of Romani culture in post-Soviet Ukraine

by 1963- Gabrielson, Tatiana Nikolayevna

This dissertation explored the collective experience of Romani educational and cultural leaders in Post-Soviet Ukraine, investigating how far and through what mediating structures they have acted as agents of cultural and educational change, implementing projects in the fields of media production they call the “propaganda of Romani culture.” These projects were aimed at constructing the “Roma of Ukraine” identity—battling prejudice by educating the mainstream about Roma and preparing for the move from cultural-educational pilot programs toward policies and systemic solutions governing Romani education and integration in the context of profound economic, political, and cultural transformations in Ukraine. Based on fieldwork (2002–2003) with Romani intellectuals, this dissertation adopted a cultural studies approach and chronicled the work of the first Romani poet, first Romani theater director, first Romani ethnographer, and a number of community activists engaged in the production of culture and knowledge that created the uplifting archetype of the “Roma of Ukraine.” vi