Sichtbar und sicher? Kulturelle Identität als Quelle von Sicherheit. Soziale Vernetzung und der Predigerdiskurs der Pfingstler bei den Roma in der Slowakei

Abstract

Visible and Secure? Cultural Identity as a Source of Security. Social Networking and Pentecostal Pastoral Discourse among Roma in Slovakia

This contribution is meant to be a micro-case study of the issue of the institutional production and reproduction of security of a selected minority group in Slovakia, by tracing the process of social networking and reconstruction of (ethnic) identity on a religious base. Principal attention is paid to an analysis of the trans-social and trans-ethnic discourse and the concept of “New Roma” as a de-ethnicised and ahistorically constructed label with positive and non-ascriptive connotations. The Pentecostal concept of the “Family of God” is studied in connection with the perception of an increased feeling of security not only within primary (family) networks, but also within hybrid (religionbased) networks. The “New Roma” concept offered to Roma by pastors would increase the potential of Roma to enter also secondary (professional) and other kinds of networks within mainstream society and allow them positive visibilisation at the meso-level of society. The new forms of social networking together with the new concept of deethnicised and de-essentialised identity would allow Roma to change the management techniques from achieving security through invisibility to a more emancipative and assertive technique employing the paradigm “more visible = more secure”.