Intervention, Autonomy and Power in Polarised Societies

Abstract

The chapter reflects

on the unintended consequences of fieldwork in polarised societies, which may

affect the autonomy of both the researcher and the researched. In a context of

past violence and intractable conflict, research participants often have concerns about how the research impacts the autonomy of their daily life by potentially compromising their safety. On the other hand, research participants may try to make use of the researcher for their own political and economic objectives, compromising the autonomy of the project. In analysing the simultaneous empowerment and disempowerment of research participants, the chapter builds on fieldwork conducted in rural Mozambique on community mobilization against insurgent violence during the country’s civil war (1976-1992). The chapter discusses the methodological and ethical challenges of power and neutrality during fieldwork and joins others in showing that conflict research needs to be understood as a form of intervention in local affairs.