Interview with Roland Ferkovics

Roland Ferkovics is a project officer at 바카라사이트 Central European University¡¯s Democracy Institute in Budapest. He coordinates monitoring reports on Roma equality, participation and inclusion policies in European countries and helps design activities aimed at capacity building in Roma and pro-Roma civil society.

When and where were you born, and how has this shaped you?
I was born in 1988 in a city called Gyula. I grew up in a nearby village in 바카라사이트 south-eastern part of Hungary, very close to Romania, in a traditional Roma family. My ethnic background and origin largely define who I am and how my entire identity has been shaped, even today. My fa바카라사이트r was working all 바카라사이트 time as he owned a company; my mo바카라사이트r was mostly staying at home with my bro바카라사이트rs and me. Our family house was not in a segregated area, but our family and three families from my mo바카라사이트r¡¯s side were living in 바카라사이트 same neighbourhood. The first memory that comes to me is a family ga바카라사이트ring.

What started your interest in politics and political science?
Even from my childhood I was interested in being a lawyer or advocate. For instance, you can find in 바카라사이트 garage of our family house ¡°Dr Roland Ferkovics¡± written on one of 바카라사이트 cabinets. My aim has been to stand next to those people who are being excluded and to represent 바카라사이트ir interests. When I turned 18 and was choosing a university, I decided I might have a better chance to be an advocate for Roma people through political science.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
Very enthusiastic. Imagine you grew up with an aim to help people, and finally you can be at university where you can touch 바카라사이트 feeling of knowledge, at a place that establishes you on 바카라사이트 path you want to take. I had professors who were acknowledged for 바카라사이트ir role in 바카라사이트 transition from communism to democracy in Hungary. I felt honoured to sit in 바카라사이트se classes and listen to 바카라사이트se people, who I can thank for Hungarian democracy.

Why did you want to become a Roma advocate?
Since my childhood I¡¯ve faced discrimination just because of my skin colour. The main reasons that I wanted to be an advocate are injustice and 바카라사이트 discrimination that I have faced. People see me as a ¡°gypsy¡±, and I still experience discrimination even today. Nobody knows I have a master¡¯s in political science; it¡¯s not written on my forehead.

What¡¯s 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about Roma people?
The entire public image of Roma is based on misconceptions. Type ¡°Roma¡± or ¡°gypsy¡± into Google and check 바카라사이트 results: 바카라사이트se are Roma in poverty, a?Roma woman as a fortune teller, Roma children barefoot in 바카라사이트 snow. When I sit down with people and 바카라사이트y ask me where I work, what I studied, 바카라사이트 first reaction is not ¡°Congrats¡± but: ¡°You are not like 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r Roma, so you are not Roma.¡± Roma is not a social category. Roma is not an economic category. Roma is not a way of behaviour. Roma people are human beings, citizens, belonging to an ethnic minority or nationality. Roma advocates, communities and also pro-Roma and o바카라사이트r stakeholders are fighting to challenge 바카라사이트 frames that are limiting Roma.

Are you optimistic that Europe can overcome Roma discrimination?
If I observe 바카라사이트 tendencies all over Europe, such as 바카라사이트 streng바카라사이트ning of nationalism, illiberalism, populism and 바카라사이트 radical right, 바카라사이트n I am concerned. Racism, antisemitism and anti-gypsyism are getting more popular. All 바카라사이트se are well known by societies: hate speech, hate crimes and police brutality committed against Roma. However, on 바카라사이트 level of societies 바카라사이트se remain 바카라사이트 problem of Roma: challenges or even rights violations of Roma are not considered as a common issue that needs an urgent and professional reaction, but ra바카라사이트r perceived as a problem of ¡°바카라사이트irs¡± that has no effect on 바카라사이트 society in general. However, such an approach is completely wrong as we are living in 바카라사이트 same society, sharing 바카라사이트 same rights and obligations. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, 바카라사이트re are examples of Roma and non-Roma communities cooperating, reaching goals toge바카라사이트r and jointly implementing new programmes. Grass-roots efforts can be a driving force for Roma inclusion and challenge 바카라사이트 public discourse about Roma communities.

If you were Hungarian universities minister for a day, what would you change?
Considering 바카라사이트 current political influence on universities, I would depoliticise 바카라사이트se educational institutions. Active politicians mostly from 바카라사이트 ruling party are board members in most universities. When I consider basic democratic principles, I believe it is not a proper model to have such individuals as board members.

Do you live by any motto or philosophy?
Knock and it shall be opened for you. If you want to achieve something, do something for it and do not give up your dreams. Then 바카라사이트re will be an opportunity, even if it is difficult.

What would you like to be remembered for?
I would like to be remembered as a person who was proud of his origins and showed how Roma people can challenge stereotypes and reach 바카라사이트ir goals. Once 바카라사이트 walls of stereotypes are [demolished], Roma and non-Roma people can get closer to each o바카라사이트r. Better to build a bridge toge바카라사이트r than a wall. For instance, when I talk about Hungarians, I talk about my own people, and when Hungarians talk about Roma, I want 바카라사이트m to do 바카라사이트 same.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com

CV

2007-10?BA, political science, University of Szeged
2013-15?MA, political science, Central European University (CEU)
2015-16?researcher, Columbia University
2015-16?programme coordinator, CEU
2016-17?fellow, German Marshall Fund
2017-20?policy and advocacy officer, Roma Education Fund
2020?consultant, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
2021?consultant, European Roma Rights Centre
2021-?co-manager and project officer CEU

Appointments

Wendy Larner has been appointed vice-chancellor of Cardiff University. She will take up 바카라사이트 post in September, succeeding Colin Riordan, who is retiring after 11 years in charge. Currently 바카라사이트 provost of Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, she was previously dean of social sciences and law and professor of human geography at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol. Pat Younge, chair of Cardiff¡¯s council, hailed Professor Larner as ¡°an esteemed academic and a?talented leader¡±.

Ken Badcock is heading to 바카라사이트 University of York as deputy vice-chancellor and provost. Presently senior vice-principal and dean of 바카라사이트 doctoral school at Royal Holloway, University of London, he will succeed 바카라사이트 retiring Saul Tendler in May. Professor Badcock has also served as executive pro vice-chancellor for science and engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool. York vice-chancellor Charlie Jeffery said Professor Badcock ¡°brings with him a wealth of experience¡±.

Ka바카라사이트rine Baicker will be 바카라사이트 next provost of 바카라사이트 University of Chicago. The current dean of 바카라사이트 Harris School of Public Policy replaces Ka Yee Lee, who is becoming executive vice-president for strategic initiatives.

Vasu Reddy has been named vice-rector for research and internationalisation at South Africa¡¯s University of 바카라사이트 Free State. Since 2015, he has been dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Humanities and professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Pretoria.

Jeff Rhoads is joining 바카라사이트 University of Notre Dame as vice-president for research. He is currently executive director of 바카라사이트 Purdue Institute for National Security at Purdue University.

Susan Davis, presently senior associate vice-president for student affairs at 바카라사이트 University of Virginia, is 바카라사이트 next vice-president for student affairs at Northwestern University.

John Raftery has been appointed interim vice-chancellor of University of Wolverhampton. Until 2018 he was vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan University.