The role of Roman associations in the struggle against poverty and social exclusion of Gypsy/Roman's in Turkey

In this thesis, the problem of poverty and social exclusion of Gypsy/Roma was analysed by using "ethnic poverty" concept. The main problematic of the study is "the role of Gypsy/Roma associations in combatting poverty and social exclusion of Gypsy/Roma community". In order to answer this, existing literature on the issue had been extensively used and additionally a field research was conducted. Semi-structured interviews technique, which is one of the qualitative data technique, was used in the field work. The interviewees were reached through snowball (chain) sampling technique and their contact information was gathered through internet sources. Within this framework, a total of 10 interviews were held in 4 different cities; 8 of the interviewees were the representatives of the associations and 2 of them were key persons. In the light of all the data of the study it was reached that the numbers of the associations started to increase rapidly after 2004 in Turkey, and this gave a way to the Gypsy/Roma people to make their many problems, especially poverty and social exclusion, visible and to produce solutions to them. Even though they face problems in implementing their activities and even though their role is limited in solving their problems, it is clear that Gypsies/Romas are now formally organized and through their associations they make their voices heard and have the chance to convey their problems to all institutions and organizations. Therefore their attempts to organize and the existing level of their organization should be taken an important first step for the community which represents one the most vulnerable case of ethnic poverty in Turkey and in the rest of the world.