ABSTRACT
Karl Marx and Frederick Engels famously said that ‘the history of all hitherto society is the history of class struggles’. While acknowledging the ubiquity of class antagonisms in past times, one might also surmise that, over time, human relations within the cultural sphere have been indubitably marred by the marginalization of certain groups in society: scapegoating them in ways that shock more enlightened, human sensibilities. R. Girard’s ideas on mimesis and the scapegoating mechanism can be introduced to the Roma members, at the WHY stage of the model, through consciousness raising and problematizing strategies. Girard’s insights into mimesis and the scapegoating mechanism have implications for the identification and contribution of role-models both within and outside the self-directed group. Members of self-directed groups should not be ensnared by the scapegoating process as they can take action for change. Developing ‘strength in numbers’ is a third option under this heading.
