Assistants, guides, collaborators, friends: The concealed figures of conflict research

Jenkins, Sarah Ann (2018) Assistants, guides, collaborators, friends: The concealed figures of conflict research. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 47 (2). pp. 143-170. ISSN 1552-5414

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Abstract

Recent scholarship has demonstrated an increasing awareness of the need for more grounded, empirical research into the micro-level dynamics of violent contexts. Research in these difficult, dangerous, and potentially violent conflict or post-conflict settings necessitates the formation of new relationships of dependency, and assistants, friends, collaborators, and guides become central figures in the field. However, all too often, these figures are written out of academic accounts and silenced in our analyses. This not only does them a significant disservice, but it also obscures potential biases, complexities, and ethical dilemmas that emerge in the way in which such research is carried out. Drawing upon fieldwork exploring the 2007–2008 Kenyan postelection violence, this paper argues that reliance upon insider-assistants is essential in conflict settings and explores the challenges inherent in these relationships. As researchers become increasingly engaged in micro-level studies of violent contexts, we must interrogate the realities of how our knowledge has been produced and engage in more open and honest discussions of the methodological and ethical challenges of conflict research.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	conflict research,ethnography,kenya,sdg 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/peace_justice_and_strong_institutions
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2018 09:30
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 03:53
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/67945
DOI:	10.1177/0891241615619993

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