Authoritarianism and the ‘culture of poverty’ in social interventions in Roma communities in Hungary: the potential of radical social work and inclusive community development

This article is based on a seminar involving participants with experience of Roma-related service delivery, activism and knowledge production and explores the relevance of asset-based community development, radical social work and inclusive community development approaches in addressing challenges in Roma communities in Central Eastern Europe, with particular reference to Hungary. Some key questions in the discussion are as follows. Is there scope for co-production between local and national government and Roma community groups? What kind of cooperation is possible in the revised legislative framework after 2010 in Hungary, which some critics argue has helped establish forms of authoritarianism in Hungary? Can radical interventions avert paternalist, assimilatory and discriminatory culture-of-poverty approaches? And to what extent are authoritarianism and xenophobia undermining emancipatory approaches to social and community work?