The Politics of Conducting Research in Africa : Ethical and Emotional Challenges in the Field

This edited volume investigates the ethical and emotional challenges of conducting fieldwork in Africa. It reflects on difficulties researchers face such as objectivity, access, gender issues and information risks. Focusing across a wide range of states and themes, the project makes an original contribution and builds upon existing strengths and insights in various disciplines by presenting research-practical insights from contemporary cases of fieldwork. As such, the book is an accessible and useful guide for students and scholars alike. Lyn Johnstone is Teaching Fellow at Royal Holloway University of London, United Kingdom.-- Provided by publisher Contents 5 Notes on Contributors 7 Chapter 1 Introduction: Conducting Fieldwork in Africa 10 Overview of Chapters 12 Conclusion 18 References 19 Chapter 2 ‘Good That You Are One of Us’: Positionality and Reciprocity in Conducting Fieldwork in Kenya’s Flower Industry 21 Positionality and the ‘Variety of Selves’ in Fieldwork 24 The Research Context 26 ‘Going Home’ as a Kenyan Researcher from the University of Cambridge 28 Reciprocity: Institutionalizing Knowledge in Local Institutions 33 Reflections and Conclusion 35 References 37 Chapter 3 Being Familiar, and Yet Strange: Conducting Research as a Hybrid Insider-Outsider in Uganda 42 Positionality: Insiders and Outsiders 43 Insider and Outsider: A Dichotomy or a Spectrum? 46 The Hybrid Insider-Outsider 48 Conducting Research as a Hybrid Insider-Outsider: A Public Servant in Uganda 49 Complete-Insider—Advantages and Disadvantages 50 Complete-Outsider—Advantages and Disadvantages 52 Partial Insider, Partial Outsider 53 Reflecting on the Hybrid Insider-Outsider Experience 56 Conclusion 57 References 58 Chapter 4 Multi-positionality and ‘Inbetweenness’: Reflections on Ethnographic Fieldwork in Southern Eastern Malawi 60 The Field Site and Research Aim 61 What Do I Mean by Biosocial? 62 Disciplinary Dilemmas 64 Navigating Privilege 66 Unique Relationships and Positionalities Over Time 67 An Imagined Community of Biomedics 70 Shifting and Competing Responsibilities 73 Conclusions 77 References 79 Chapter 5 Landscapes of Desire: The Effect of Gender, Sexualized Identity, and Flirting on Data Production in Rwanda and Zimbabwe 81 The Field of Desire and Desire in the Field 87 ‘Can You Tell Me Why Zimbabwe Left the Commonwealth...’ 90 ‘I Personally Have No Problem with Homosexuality...’ 91 ‘I Wish I Could Come Up to Your Hotel Room...’ 91 Exploring Flirting in the Field: Positionality, Performance, Production 92 Conclusion 97 References 99 Chapter 6 Fieldwork and Emotions: Positionality, Method Choices, and a Radio Program in South Sudan 102 The Field of Emotions in Research 103 The Environment 107 The Research 109 A Common Theme: Experiencing Violence 110 Consequences and Conclusions 113 References 115 Chapter 7 Researching Diaspora Citizenship: Reflections on Issues of Positionality and Access from a Zimbabwean Researching Zimbabweans in South Africa 119 Negotiating Access: Practical Challenges and Strategies 121 Ethical Issues 124 Reflections on Subjectivity and Bias 125 Power Dynamics and Positionality 127 Conclusion 131 References 133 Chapter 8 Gatekeeping Success in the Namibian CBNRM Program 137 Entrance and Continued Access to Conservancies 142 Gatekeepers’ Impact on Data Collection and Empirical Findings 144 Accessing the Namibian NGO Scene 146 Gatekeeping as Empirical Outcome 149 Conclusions 150 References 152 Chapter 9 Failed Fieldwork in Senegal: Give Up or Continue? 156 Fieldwork: On the Way to Failure? 159 Determining the Issues 164 Failed Research: Don’t Give Up, Continue 167 Conclusion 169 References 171 Chapter 10 Negotiating Research Access: The Interplay Between Politics and Academia in Contemporary Zimbabwe 173 Following the Rules: Institutional Affiliation 177 The Politicization of Academia 183 Pragmatism and Solutions 187 Conclusion 190 References 191 Bibliography 193 Index 215 Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Introduction: Conducting Fieldwork in Africa (Lyn Johnstone)....Pages 1-11 ‘Good That You Are One of Us’: Positionality and Reciprocity in Conducting Fieldwork in Kenya’s Flower Industry (Nungari Mwangi)....Pages 13-33 Being Familiar, and Yet Strange: Conducting Research as a Hybrid Insider-Outsider in Uganda (Christine van Hooft)....Pages 35-52 Multi-positionality and ‘Inbetweenness’: Reflections on Ethnographic Fieldwork in Southern Eastern Malawi (Maddy Gupta-Wright)....Pages 53-73 Landscapes of Desire: The Effect of Gender, Sexualized Identity, and Flirting on Data Production in Rwanda and Zimbabwe (Lyn Johnstone)....Pages 75-95 Fieldwork and Emotions: Positionality, Method Choices, and a Radio Program in South Sudan (Kerstin Tomiak)....Pages 97-113 Researching Diaspora Citizenship: Reflections on Issues of Positionality and Access from a Zimbabwean Researching Zimbabweans in South Africa (Langton Miriyoga)....Pages 115-132 Gatekeeping Success in the Namibian CBNRM Program (Carolin H. Stamm)....Pages 133-151 Failed Fieldwork in Senegal: Give Up or Continue? (Elizaveta Volkova)....Pages 153-169 Negotiating Research Access: The Interplay Between Politics and Academia in Contemporary Zimbabwe (Joshua Pritchard)....Pages 171-190 Back Matter ....Pages 191-217