Rethinking Anti‐Roma Racism Research: Conceptual, Methodological, and Epistemic Tensions in Contemporary Research

Abstract

The struggle against anti‐Roma racism has become a stated priority for European institutions; however, the lack of empirically grounded research continues to limit both its understanding and eradication. In a field dominated by depoliticized and individualistic psychological approaches, advancing racism research requires a critical reassessment of its prevailing frameworks, assumptions, and methodological practices. Drawing on a scoping review of 65 empirical studies published between 2005 and 2025, this article maps the dominant paradigms shaping the conceptualization, operationalization, measurement, and intersectional framing of anti‐Roma racism. We identify four interrelated tensions: (1) substantial terminological and definitional fragmentation; (2) a persistent gap between structural rhetoric and predominantly individual‐level analyses centered on majority attitudes and representations; (3) a tendency towards methodological individualism and limited use of reflexive, participatory, and mixed‐methods approaches; and (4) minimal engagement with intersectionality as a transversal framework. We argue that future research must adopt conceptually rigorous, structurally informed, multilevel, and intersectional approaches that integrate mixed, reflexive, and co‐research methods centering Roma standpoints. Such a shift is essential for understanding anti‐Roma racism as an embedded system of power and for informing policies that move beyond individual bias toward structural eradication and reparation. Beyond synthesizing findings, this review interrogates the epistemological and methodological assumptions currently shaping anti‐Roma racism research, highlighting the implications for both scholarship and policy.