Relating and differentiating: navigating worlds and negotiating positionality in research on Chinese agribusinesses in rural Tajikistan

Abstract

Ethnographic research on the Chinese presence in Tajikistan presents a range of challenges. Apart from the bureaucratic hurdles of securing research permission, one must carefully navigate across social and cultural worlds when engaging with both Chinese and Tajik interlocutors. This involves continuously negotiating positionality, shaped by factors such as class, gender, age, and nationality. In a context in which China’s presence is politicised and often contested, reflexivity is vital. In this contribution, I share fieldwork experiences in rural Tajikistan in various periods between 2012 and 2021. Reflecting on positionality, I offer an analytical lens to illuminate the power configurations among the diverse actors involved in China’s presence in Tajikistan.