We strive to achieve the best possible cooperation between Roma and non-Roma in all areas of education and research, and to use scholarly methods that are
emancipatory and employ critical perspectives on power. For example:

• pedagogical action research,
• awareness of theoretical perspectives,
• antiziganist criticism,
• interdisciplinary perspectives on the language of Romani Chib,
• Roma participation in the university’s research and education,
• cooperation with the Roma community in Sweden and internationally, as well as with Roma academics and public agencies that are tasked with strengthening Roma rights.

Historically, and in the present day, Romani Studies is a discipline that carries a colonial charge, where Roma have been objectified, exotified and essentialised. More recently, a new focus has developed, that of Critical Romani Studies. Romani Studies at Södertörn University wishes to contribute to the development of this focus through scholarly partnerships.

Romani Studies is a multidisciplinary subject that has natural intersections with other disciplines in research and education that feature similar topics of enquiry. At Södertörn, Romani Studies has cooperated with education, history, linguistics, social work, history of art, journalism, comparative literature, criminology, sociology, Sami studies and ethnology.

The methodology used in Romani Studies is shared with closely related disciplines, so as a subject it is defined and delimited purely by its content. This means that research that focuses on the Roma people, Roma interaction with others, and others’ perspectives on and interactions with Roma can be defined as Romani Studies.

Colloquium for doctoral students

Romani Studies at Södertörn University is organising an international colloquium for doctoral students who have a research interest in critical Romska studies and research on antiziganism. Discussions will be led by Jan Selling, associate professor and senior lecturer in Romani Studies.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet online on several occasions to discuss ongoing and planned research, articles, drafts and other ideas. It is also a chance to exchange thoughts. Ideas and experiences with other researchers in the same. Our colloquium can be regarded as a complement to the supervision and seminars you already benefit from in your doctoral education.

Jan Selling’s research areas are Roma history, the history of Roma liberation, historical injustice and critical theory and antiziganism. The plan is for the first meetings to be held in mid-June. Please contact Jan Selling for more information.

Higher seminars

Critical Romani Studies Lunch Seminar Series is a platform for sharing research-based knowledge, research ideas and research questions in the field of Critical Romani Studies. The series brings together Roma and non-Roma scholars and students who want to share their knowledge with a wide audience.

The seminars will be held every Tuesday at 12.00-12.30. They will be sent live through Zoom, and will later be made openly available via the Södertörn University webpage.

Please contact Associate Professor Solvor Mjøberg Lauritzen if you would like to give a presentation or have other questions. More information about upcoming seminars will be published in the calendar.