Country of residence

United Kingdom

Brief introduction

Tutor, University of St Andrews

Education

PhD in Social Anthropology, 2012, University of St Andrews / M.A. in Nationalism studies (2004; CEU, Budapest)

Academic profile

My main research interest focuses on issues related to Roma mobilities and migration networks stretched across Central Eastern Europe and western European countries. I have carried out long-term anthropological fieldwork among Slovakian Roma living in East Slovakian borderlands and labour migrating to various countries of Western Europe. I have followed their migratory pathways, examined various mechanisms of migration, and also ethnographically studied how state programmes for Roma get implemented on the ground through studying the interactions between state (workers) and Roma groups. Such an approach leads me to an understanding of Roma experiences of movement but also of employees of institutions working and interacting with Roma groups. Geographically, my research on Roma groups has brought me to focus on Central Eastern Europe, Great Britain, Switzerland and Colombia. I am interested in issues of migration, mobility, ethnography of state and borders, ethnicity and nationalism, marginality and work, power and subjectivity, political anthropology, social memory and uses of the past. In addition to my academic interests, I have been involved in more applied projects and have a research expertise in evaluation of state and NGO projects focusing on Roma issues, as well as research that would critically inform policy-making (e.g. monitoring projects).

Publications

• 2011. ‘From street busking in Switzerland to meat factories in the UK: A comparative study of two Roma migration networks from Slovakia’ in D. Kaneff and F. Pine (eds). Emerging Inequalities in Europe: poverty and transnational migration. London: Anthem Press.
• 2011. ‘Going up to England’ On mobilities in the case of East-Slovakian Roma migration. Forthcoming in Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. Special    issue on Romani mobilities.
• 2006. Co-editor (with A. Sczepanikova & M. Canek), Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe: Unpacking the Diversity, Multicultural Center Prague.

Keywords

Roma, mobility and migration, marginality, ethnicity

Contact

jan.grill@gmail.com browse members list