Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolution

This paper examines the system of conflict resolution maintained by a Roma group that has migrated from the Romanian regions of Transylvania and Banat to over 16 countries in Western Europe and North America. The analysis is based on a long-term collaborative ethnography that enabled the detailed re...

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Main Authors: JUAN F. GAMELLA, VASILE M. MUNTEAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Liverpool University Press 2024-12-01
Series:Romani Studies
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Online Access:http://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/rost.2024.10
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author JUAN F. GAMELLA
VASILE M. MUNTEAN
author_facet JUAN F. GAMELLA
VASILE M. MUNTEAN
author_sort JUAN F. GAMELLA
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines the system of conflict resolution maintained by a Roma group that has migrated from the Romanian regions of Transylvania and Banat to over 16 countries in Western Europe and North America. The analysis is based on a long-term collaborative ethnography that enabled the detailed reconstruction of 76 conflicts that occurred between 2001 and 2022. Of these conflicts, 56 were resolved through kris hearings conducted by a tribunal of selected judges or krisoniere. This paper provides an initial analysis of this database, addressing four key aspects of the kris procedures: (1) How does this system work today within diasporic networks that rely heavily on digital technologies for transnational communication? (2) What is the profile of the judges or krisoniere and how do they work within the kris assemblies? (3) What types of conflicts does the system address and how are they linked to the socio-political organization of this diaspora? (4) How are kris resolutions enforced in the absence of political leadership or the coercive power of state institutions? This autonomous justice system, epitomized by the kris hearings, represents a form of embedded legal pluralism and network governance. Consensus within this social field is fostered by the goal of minimizing threat and violence while maintaining connectedness in the face of exclusion and discrimination. This article was published open access under a CC BY-NC-ND licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc-nd/4.0.
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spelling doaj-art-2e4d75ed939b443fa65e76dc2bfc34472025-08-20T03:48:46ZengLiverpool University PressRomani Studies1757-22742024-12-0134214720310.3828/rost.2024.10Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolutionJUAN F. GAMELLA0VASILE M. MUNTEAN1Juan Francisco Gamella is professor of Anthropology at the Departamento de Antropología Social, Facultad de Filosofia y Letras, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.Vasile M. Muntean was a research assistant at the Departamento de Antropología of the Universidad de Granada from 2014 to 2021. Presently he lives and works in New York.This paper examines the system of conflict resolution maintained by a Roma group that has migrated from the Romanian regions of Transylvania and Banat to over 16 countries in Western Europe and North America. The analysis is based on a long-term collaborative ethnography that enabled the detailed reconstruction of 76 conflicts that occurred between 2001 and 2022. Of these conflicts, 56 were resolved through kris hearings conducted by a tribunal of selected judges or krisoniere. This paper provides an initial analysis of this database, addressing four key aspects of the kris procedures: (1) How does this system work today within diasporic networks that rely heavily on digital technologies for transnational communication? (2) What is the profile of the judges or krisoniere and how do they work within the kris assemblies? (3) What types of conflicts does the system address and how are they linked to the socio-political organization of this diaspora? (4) How are kris resolutions enforced in the absence of political leadership or the coercive power of state institutions? This autonomous justice system, epitomized by the kris hearings, represents a form of embedded legal pluralism and network governance. Consensus within this social field is fostered by the goal of minimizing threat and violence while maintaining connectedness in the face of exclusion and discrimination. This article was published open access under a CC BY-NC-ND licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc-nd/4.0.http://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/rost.2024.10Roma/Gypsieskrisplural legalisminterlegalityjustice systemtransnational migration
spellingShingle JUAN F. GAMELLA
VASILE M. MUNTEAN
Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolution
Romani Studies
Roma/Gypsies
kris
plural legalism
interlegality
justice system
transnational migration
title Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolution
title_full Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolution
title_fullStr Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolution
title_full_unstemmed Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolution
title_short Kris in a Roma diaspora: New insights on transnational conflict resolution
title_sort kris in a roma diaspora new insights on transnational conflict resolution
topic Roma/Gypsies
kris
plural legalism
interlegality
justice system
transnational migration
url http://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/rost.2024.10
work_keys_str_mv AT juanfgamella krisinaromadiasporanewinsightsontransnationalconflictresolution
AT vasilemmuntean krisinaromadiasporanewinsightsontransnationalconflictresolution