Juan F. Gamella

Marriage practices and ethnic differentiation: The case of Spanish Gypsies (1870-2000)

Spanish Gypsies [gitanos] are one of the main minorities and distinctive cultural groups in Spain. They constitute approximately 1.5% of the total population (500,000–700,000) and live in all regions and provinces. Here we present a model of the differential nuptiality patterns of gitanos, showing the importance of their marriage and kinship practices as a source of their physical and cultural reproduction. We analyze genealogical reconstructions based on archival research and oral history conducted in 23 Andalusian towns and villages, where vital events are recorded in the civil registers. Our data concern over 9000 Gypsies born between 1850 and 1994. Four main interrelated patterns are considered here: (1) the different form of establishing marriage based on cohabitation and the exigency of the virginity of the bride, which ideally has to be proved in a public ceremony; (2) the generalization of marriage and low levels of celibacy; (3) the early age at marriage; and (4) the importance of ethnic endogamy and homogamy, which often results in a high level of consanguineous marriages repeated generationally. We close by considering some of the potential demographic and cultural consequences of these elements of Gypsy marriage patterns.

A Brief History of Cannabis Policies in Spain (1968–2003)

Spain was one of the first countries in Europe to decriminalize drug use and one of the last to embrace harm reduction. As such, Spains drug policies often appear to be rather contradictory. In this paper we will review the current status of drug laws and the major drug policies that have been implemented in Spain over the last 25 years concerning cannabis; their demographic, political, and economic contexts; and their apparent consequences. We will follow a chronological approach that outlines every major change that occurred during that period while trying to provide some sociopolitical background. We have divided the period under study into four major phases. Each phase addresses a major political change or shift in the social response to drug-related problems. In this account, we will apply to cannabis policies the conceptual distinctions introduced by MacCoun and Reuter in their recent revision of alternative drug policies (2001), especially their tripartite division between punitive, depenalizing, and legalizing regimes and the associated processes of promotion and commercialization. One essential question that concerns the Spanish case is the relationship between legal changes, their implementation, and long-term oscillations in consumption rates.

Nominal Assimilation: The Ethnic and National Identities of the Gitanos or Calé of Spain as Shown by their Surnames in the 1783–1785 Census

Abstract In 1783, the King of Spain Carlos III enacted the last Royal Order for the control and assimilation of Gitanos or Calé. The law required that local authorities listed the Gitanos living in their counties. The resulting census is the most important document on the Spanish Romani written during the ancien régime. Unfortunately, its data has never been studied in depth. This paper analyzes the surnames of the 12,037 Gitano persons identified in the census and finds 567 different heritable family names. Interestingly, 10% of these surnames identified 75% of the Gitano population. The analysis shows that Gitanos already had the same names they have today, and that it is possible to trace personal genealogies linking Gitano people from this census with people alive now, some fourteen generations later. Gitano surnames were all Hispanic and many of them of aristocratic origin. Some were common to all Gitano groups, but most followed regional patterns and were differentiated by region and even by province. Baptism, mixed marriages, and imitation of neighbors were the most likely sources for the adoption of these surnames. Gitanos also used personal and family nicknames in their communities, but their official names were a crucial part of their personal and collective identity. Resistance, opposition, and contrasting cultural strategies should not ignore the hybridizing and creative adaptations of the Romani peoples.

Differences in the prevalence of depression in older Spanish Romany and non-Romany people and associated factors: Depression: Romany and non-Romany people

Depression among older adults has serious implications, especially because suicide rates are higher in this group than in younger adults. Research has identified biological and social risk factors. However, studies addressing cultural and psychosocial factors associated with specific ethnic groups, such as Spanish Romani, are lacking. The objective of the present study was to establish the differential prevalence of depression among Romany and non‐Romany people older than 55 years of age. It also aimed to explore how cultural, sociodemographic, and psychosocial factors predispose individuals to depression.

Interacciones entre el caló y el espaňol. Historia, relaciones y fuentes

Předmětem zajmu textů shrnutých v kolektivni monografii jsou vzajemne aspekty a mira ovlivňovani mezi spanělskou varietou romstiny zvanou obecně calo a spanělstinou, jakož i dalsimi jazyky v ramci hispanofonniho arealu. Jednotlive texty se zabývaji jak procesem formovani spanělske romstiny v ramci ostatnich romských dialektů, tak i interakci mezi spanělskou romstinou a dalsimi iberoromanskými jazyky. Pozornost je věnovana jak historickým souvislostem a kontextům, tak i soucasnemu stavu.

La legalización de los derivados del cannabis en España: Hipótesis sobre un potencial mercado emergente

First, this paper estimates the dimensions of the market for cannabis in Spain using data on the extent of consumption and the main patterns of use of consumers. Then the paper reviews the hypothetical production and distribution costs of these drugs in different production regimes under different legal conditions. The review shows that current prices of cannabis in the illegal market could be notably reduced if production and distribution of cannabis were decriminalized and even more if they were performed by legal enterprises. Thirdly, we examine the relationship between prices and consumption levels by analysing the price elasticity of demand. A fall in the prices of cannabis products will likely result in an increase in the number of users and in the total amount consumed. Lastly we consider several alternatives for the taxation of cannabis derivatives to counteract the likely fall in prices, and their pros and cons.