Breaking the Exclusion Cycle

“Bracic contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of Roma and non-Roma interaction, and most importantly, shows the way to breaking the cycle of discrimination. The book will be of interest especially to students and scholars in the social sciences seeking to foster anti-discrimination praxis through their work. Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals.” – R. P. Peters, HarvardUniversity, CHOICE”Bracic offers an edifying account of the individual behaviors and biases that sustain cycles of social exclusion, with a focus on the important case of the Roma in Europe. She bridges insights from behavioral economics and social psychology to offer a comprehensive theory of exclusion, and relies on a rich array of mixed methods to test it, even introducing new ways of measuring discrimination in sensitive contexts. The result is a must-read for anyone seekingto better understand the micro foundations of social exclusion, and how the vicious cycle could be broken.” – Claire L. Adida, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of California, SanDiego”Breaking the Exclusion Cycle is an exceptionally well-written study of anti-Roma discrimination in Central Europe. Blending ethnographic work, original surveys, and behavioral games, the book offers a provocative theory of how prevailing anti-minority culture precipitates ‘survival strategies’ by the minority group that in turn reaffirm the negative attributions and assessments of the dominant group. The book also documents a potential way out: the’exclusion cycle’ can be broken when negative stereotypes are punctured by cooperative social interaction between groups that in turn lessens exclusion. The book should be required reading for anyone who seeks tounderstand discrimination and strategies for addressing it” – Donald P. Green, J.W. Burgess Professor of Political Science, Columbia University”The Romani populations in Europe have suffered from social exclusion more persistently than any other minority, with shocking and often unpunished assaults on their members that continue to this day. Ana Bracic’s brave and illuminating study on the Roma in Slovenia reveals an ‘exclusion cycle’ in which discrimination by the majority and misapprehended ‘survival strategies’ by the minority sustain unremitting prejudice. Her compelling argument is developed withethnography, revealing experiments, and a comparison across towns showing how certain types of contact can ameliorate this unfortunate blot on Europe’s human rights record.” – David D. Laitin,Professor of Political Science, Stanford University”Bracic’s new book is an innovative and necessary look at how individuals perpetuate the exclusion of others and what can be done to break the problematic cycle. Bracic’s brilliance shows in both the careful theorizing and in the novel experimental design. Not only is this a must-read for human rights and NGO scholars, this is a critical piece of work for all interested in stopping discrimination and xenophobia.” – Amanda Murdie, Thomas P. and M. Jean LauthPublic Affairs Professor of International Affairs, University of Georgia

Ana Bracic is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University.