Exploring the Backstage: Methodological and Ethical Issues Surrounding the Role of Research Brokers in Insecure Zones. Issue 2 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eriksson Baaz, Maria; Utas, Mats
• Is Part Of: Civil wars. Volume 21:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Civil war -- Periodicals; War -- Periodicals; Ethnic relations -- Periodicals; 355.021805
• DOI: 10.1080/13698249.2019.1656357
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8249

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The contribution and situation of research brokers problematically tend to be shrouded in silence in most research texts. In this article we probe into the particular ethical and methodological challenges that we may encounter when working with brokers in conflict settings, drawing upon existing literature and contributions of this special issue. Reposing on post-colonial perspectives, we problematize both the increasing securitization of conflict research with its one-sided focus on researcher safety and the notion of researcher responsibility. Moreover, we argue that the inequalities marking researcher-broker relations are often particularly glaring in conflict settings, thus increasing the risk for exploitation.