Powell, R. orcid.org/0000-0002-8869-8954 (2007) Civilising offensives and ambivalence: the case of British Gypsies. People, Place and Policy Online, 1 (3). pp. 112-123. ISSN 1753-8041
Abstract
This paper utilises Norbert Elias's theory of the civilising process to examine British society's response to Gypsies and Travellers and explore the perception of this group as in 'need of corrective treatment'. It demonstrates how state policies towards Gypsies and Travellers are presented as improving their welfare but are in fact characterised by ambivalence. It is argued that mechanisms employed with the expressed goal of 'civilising' behaviour actually exhibit decivilising elements in terms of their effect upon Gypsy culture. The paper concludes by pointing to the concept of a civilising offensive, a deliberate civilising project targeting Gypsies and Travellers, as a means of elucidating the oppressive and damaging nature of policies towards them and their cultural continuity.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2007 The Author Journal Compilation © 2007 PPP Online. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in People, Place & Policy Online. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Elias; civilising processes; civilising offensives; ambivalence; Gypsies |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Urban Studies & Planning (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2016 11:37 |
Last Modified: | 30 Jun 2017 17:01 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3351/ppp.0001.0003.0002 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Sheffield Hallam University |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.3351/ppp.0001.0003.0002 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:105379 |