ABSTRACT
A recent national survey has revealed how widespread and deeply rooted antiRomani sentiments are among Italians from all social backgrounds. The aim of this chapter is to investigate the political and institutional side of this dark shadow of contemporary Italy by reviewing the key policy initiatives on Roma and Sinti taken since November 2007, when the Italian government issued decree No. 181 (1 November 2007), declaring ‘a nomad emergency’ for the first time in Italian recent history. The chapter will also highlight continuities and discontinuities in public discourse and policy between the current government led by Silvio Berlusconi and the previous one led by Romano Prodi.
