DFG Research Unit ‘Antiziganism and Ambivalence in Europe (1850-1950)´

The Research Unit analyses the intertwined history of representations of others and self-articulations that contributed to the inclusion and emancipation as well as the exclusion and elimination of Sinti and Roma in Europe between 1850 and 1950.

This goal is achieved by deconstructing antigypsyist stereotypes in art, the state and science and by reconstructing the agency of Sinti and Roma. Together, transfers, synchronies and asynchronies between European spaces from Spain to Germany and Romania will be analysed.

The results of the Research Unit will be integrated into a multimodal database that will be permanently available to the scientific public. With the involvement of an international network of academics, the results will be published at four conferences. Two habilitations, three dissertations and six monographs will be produced. The Research Unit attaches particular importance to the participation of Sinti and Roma, for which an advisory board with nine members and the promotion of academic careers from the minority are planned.

Subprojects

Subproject 1 ‘Pictorial narrative and visual staging of antiziganistic motifs (1848-1930)’ explores the significance of modern pictorial narratives that perpetuate traditional stereotypical motifs and subjects under the direction of Prof. Dr. Peter Bell and Prof. Dr. Melanie Ulz, while subproject 2 ‘Spectacle, curiosity, subalternity - discursive negotiations of identity and alterity in the context of popular knowledge media (1850-1950)’ under the direction of Prof. Dr. Kirsten von Hagen uses examples from Spain and France, in particular Paris, to examine the extent to which Sinti and Roma  were the subjects of spectacular productions during the period of investigation. Together with subproject 3 ‘Ambiguities of the audiovisual: Zigeuner Characters in Feature Films (1895-1950)', led by Prof. Dr. Matthias Bauer and Dr. Radmila Mladenova, which explores the origins, changing meanings and aesthetic and political functions of Zigeuner characters in silent films and early sound films (from 1927), these three subprojects focus on the ambiguities of artistic media.

In contrast, the other three subprojects are concerned with expository and journalistic texts and documents of scientific and police practice. Subproject 4 ‘Reflection and projection: “Zigeunerkunde” in the Danube-Carpathian region (1880-1930)’ under the direction of Prof. Dr Thomas Bohn explores the emancipatory and defamatory potential of so-called ‚Zigeunerkunde‘; subproject 5 ‘Roma journalism in the interwar period (1918-1939)’ under the direction of Prof. Dr. Iulia-Karin Patrut is dedicated to Roma journalism, and thus to political self-articulation and resistance against exclusionary tendencies, while subproject 6 ‘Transformations of the police antiziganist discourse: from the “racial” paradigm to genocidal practice (1850-1950)’ under the direction of Prof. Dr. Tanja Penter and Dr. Frank Penter is dedicated to the political self-articulation and resistance against exclusionary tendencies. Prof. Dr. Tanja Penter and Dr. Frank Reuter examine the change from a primarily sociographically accentuated to a ‘racial-biological’ concept of Ziganism, which goes hand in hand with the transformation of the police into an agency of persecution and extermination.

Early-Career Research Support

Early-career researcher support is a central component of the DFG Research Unit. It combines individual career development with intensive scholarly exchange and interdisciplinary networking. Doctoral researchers and postdoctoral fellows of the Research Unit are closely involved in the Unit’s research activities, pursue their own projects, and contribute to publications, conferences, and tasks in research and project management. 
Find all early-career researchers and workshops of the Research Unit here.

Advisory Board and Transfer

Particular emphasis is placed on the participation of Sinti and Roma: The Research Unit is accompanied by an independent Advisory Board that is continuously involved in an advisory capacity in the overall research program. Through their expertise, perspectives, and experience, the members of the board make a central contribution to the conceptual and methodological orientation of the Research Unit.

In addition, the Research Unit aims to open pathways into academia and reduce existing barriers. A particular focus lies on the targeted support and promotion of academic careers for students and early-career researchers from the minority. A key element of this work is the Empowerment Workshops, which take place in advance of the consortium’s conferences.

Conferences

In collaboration with an international network of scholars, the results will be presented and discussed at four conferences in Giessen (2026), Heidelberg (2026), Flensburg (2027), and Berlin (2028). The conferences serve to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on key concepts (e.g. the aesthetics of the spectacular) and to connect the findings of the individual subprojects with expert perspectives from the Research Units wider network, particularly with regard to central analytical dimensions (e.g. the triangulation of Antiziganism, Antisemitism, and Colonialism).

Publication Series

Within the framework of the DFG Research Unit, a dedicated publication series will be established, comprising four conference volumes, two synthesis volumes, as well as qualification theses and monographs.

Mercator Fellow

As Senior Advisor, Prof. Dr. Klaus-Michael Bogdal (University of Bielefeld) contributes his extensive expertise to the DFG Research Unit. In an advisory capacity, he supports the conceptual development of the research program, particularly the work on key concepts and research questions in preparation for the interdisciplinary conferences. During several research stays, he is also continuously involved in synthesising the results and facilitating the transfer of findings.

Start-up Funding and Associated Habilitation Project

Dr. Dezso Mate  is associate researcher of the DFG Research Unit and is developing a research proposal on the topic of “Gypsylorism and Reparative Romani Agency.” He plays an important advisory role within the DFG Research Unit and contributes his expertise in the fields of antigypsyism research, history of science, and critical Romani studies.