The Network Expression of a Roma Diaspora

Bibliographic Data

ID5089985
AuthorsFrancisco J Ogáyar (Department of Social Anthropology University of Granada Granada Spain), Vasile Muntean (0009-0001-3630-6533, Department of Social Anthropology University of Granada Granada Spain), Juan F Gamella (0000-0002-2822-962X, Department of Social Anthropology University of Granada Granada Spain), Jaromír Kovářík (0000-0002-0436-929X, Department of Economic Analysis University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Bilbao Spain), Antonio M Espín (0000-0002-1174-0771, Department of Applied Economics University of Granada Granada Spain, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume25
Issue3
Publication date2025-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Networks (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1470-2266 • E-ISSN: 1471-0374
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/glob.70013
OpenAlexW4410872761
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited91

Despite the longstanding debates among ethnographers and policymakers regarding the social organization of the Roma-the largest and most marginalized native ethnocultural minority in Europe-quantitative analyses are limited. This is partly due to a unique combination of social closure and spatial dispersion of most Roma groups, exacerbated by their recent massive migration from Central and Eastern Europe. Here, we implement a novel methodology that draws on Roma's migration networks and ethnicity- and kin-centred social norms, which enforce a permanent contact with their close ones, often facilitated by online social media like Facebook. We combine snowball sampling and a questionnaire about four 'top friends', as ranked by the Facebook algorithm, to elicit a sociocentric network of a comparatively large group of self-identified Roma originating in a Romanian area (n = 752, 96% living outside Romania). Our analysis indicates that the elicited network displays a notable similarity to the social structure of the target population in terms of kinship, subethnic group affiliation, gender roles and other characteristics. The detected patterns provide a quantitative evaluation of the qualitative ethnographic research on the Roma, thereby opening new avenues for research on this and other hard-to-reach populations

Diaspora · Programming language · Sociology · Computer Science · Gender Studies · Jewish Identity and Society · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Romani and Gypsy Studies

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