Spatial polarization and urban ghettoization of the Roma population in Bulgaria

Abstract

The current urban development in Europe faces many complex problems, mainly related to the deepening of socio-economic inequalities, spatial polarization and ghettoization, the increasing share of marginalized populations and those at risk of poverty, and school segregation. These issues are particularly acute in countries with a heterogeneous ethnic structure, and the Roma population has emerged as the most vulnerable group within Europe, particularly in Bulgaria. Roma ethnical group constituted 4.4% of the total Bulgarian population in 2021 and shows a high territorial concentration in several well-delineated areas, namely North-Western, North-Eastern, Maritsa, Trans-Balkan, and Burgas regions. In addition, more than half of them live in cities and possess the most favorable demographic features and the highest migration mobility compared to other ethnic groups. So far, despite the long-standing efforts of the Bulgarian state for Roma's successful integration, there are continuous and unfavorable trends of deepening processes of social exclusion, intolerance manifestations, spatial segregation, poor housing conditions, and lack of employment. The paper explores the current spatial polarization and urban ghettoization of the Roma population in Bulgaria. The spatial segregation of Roma urban communities is a significant issue in Bulgaria, and efforts to address their integration through national and regional strategies have not yet yielded substantial improvements. The extensive knowledge of the Roma population's cultural and other inherent peculiarities and the involvement of Roma stakeholders in policy discussions and implementations are crucial for achieving sustainable change in Bulgarian society.