According to numerous scholars and policymakers, Roma are the most disadvantaged ethnic minority in Europe. But while the predicament of Roma has often been discussed, it is invariably seen as an unfortunate anomaly in otherwise inclusive liberal democratic states. The fringes of citizenship offers a novel socio-legal enquiry into the position of Roma as marginalised citizens, using the perspective of global citizenship studies. It argues that while the Romani minorities in Europe are unique, the forms of civic marginalisation they face are not. States around the globe have applied similar legislation and policies that made traditionally settled minorities marginalised. The book examines topics such as free movement and migration, statelessness and school segregation, as well as how minorities themselves respond to marginalisation. It shows how minorities can have a wide spectrum of 'multicultural rights' and still face racism and significant human rights violations. To understand this paradox, the book offers new theoretical concepts, such as the 'invisible edges' of citizenship and 'citizenship fringes'.

The fringes of citizenship will be of interest to students and scholars of citizenship, migration, ethnic and racial studies. It also contains much that will be of value to policymakers dealing with human and minority rights, as well as to general readers eager to understand the position of Roma as citizens.