International factors have had an important effect on the status of East European Gypsies. My task here is to marshal empirical evidence in support of this contention by analyzing three complex issues. In Part I, I discuss Gypsy migration to Western Europe (and to a smaller degree, North America) after the collapse of East European state-socialism. I argue that migration relieves the Roma's marginal conditions only in the economic sense and only in relative terms. Their social exclusion may actually increase because West European governments and societies are often just as inhospitable toward them as are those they leave behind. In Part II, I briefly examine the international Romani movement that emerged prior to but intensified in the 1990s. I contend that the lack of focus, fractiousness, and poor leadership of the Roma's international organizations in many ways mirror the characteristics of their political mobilization in East European states. In Part III, I analyze the activities and track record of non-Gypsy international organizations (IOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in their attempts to publicize the Roma's plight and to improve their conditions. The key argument is that by monitoring and criticizing state minority policies as well as pursuing some important projects, they have been worthy champions of the Gypsies' cause.

PART I: GYPSY INTERSTATE MIGRATION AFTER 1989

Socialist states restricted travel to the West and heavily guarded their borders, thereby effectively preventing most citizens from leaving. Large-scale emigration soon followed the postcommunist East European governments' decision to reestablish full freedom of movement.