The Dialogic Public Policy: A Successful Case

Abstract

This article presents the concept of dialogic public policies using a case study of the Integrated Plan for the Roma People in Catalonia. For centuries, the Roma people have been considered one of the most socially excluded and discriminated groups across Europe. Several public policies have been promoted to achieve greater social inclusion and reverse this situation. In this context, from 2001 onward, the dialogic public policies began to be developed, which indicated the beginning of the Integrated Plan for the Roma People in Catalonia. The egalitarian dialogue between the Roma people and the scientific community started with the WORKALO project. This research funded by the V Framework Research Programme of the European Commission that generated a political impact and prompted unanimous recognition of the Roma people on the part of the European Parliament and some of the parliaments of the member states. The dialogic public policies had two defining points: they had to be made using an egalitarian dialogue with the Roma people, and they had to base themselves on actions indicated by the scientific evidence to provide the best possible results.