How to research authoritarian contexts? A reflection on methods.

• In Event: QRME Panel 4. Methodologies and crimes of the powerful

Abstract

The new wave of authoritarianism all over the world casts its shadow on academic research. In political sciences and sociology this phenomenon has given rise to broad discussions, yet in criminology reflection seems absent. The question of impact of the authoritarian context on research becomes more important when research is placed in Global South, where in many cases authoritarian’ conditions affect and impede research. This is reflected in poor information environment and physical threats to researchers.

As the result of the authoritarian conditions, many phenomena are misinterpreted or ignored altogether due to the lack of appropriate methodological approaches. Various methods and concepts need to be reworked to facilitate effective and safe (to the extent possible) research.

In the proposed contribution, I will reflect on the limitations and opportunities offered by different methods and approaches to methodologies for researching authoritarian contexts.

Author

• Amr Marzouk, Erasmus University Rotterdam