Definition
Fieldwork that takes place against the backdrop of “conflict” carries with it many challenges and responsibilities and thus requires careful consideration. The difficulties associated with issues such as access and maintaining the primacy of guiding ethical principles in the fieldwork process take on greater significance when the site of inquiry is defined through its relationship to conflict. This chapter situates four key themes that the author considers of paramount importance when conducting a period of “conflict” fieldwork, namely, researcher positionality, the issue of time, maximizing the principle of “do no harm,” and reclaiming ownership over impact. In so doing, the chapter seeks to encourage careful reflection from individuals and/or institutions which choose to include periods of time spent engaged in “conflict” research to ensure that greater attention is given to issues that are hitherto undervalued. The chapter concludes that ultimately fieldwork is a must for...
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Browne, B.C. (2020). Conflict Fieldwork. In: The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11795-5_90-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11795-5_90-1
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