Ethnography as Risky Business

Kees Kooningsis associate professor of anthropology and development studies in theDepartment of Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University and professor of Brazilian studies at CEDLA, University of Amsterdam.Dirk Kruijt is professor emeritus of development studies in the Department of Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University, research fellow at the Center for International Studies of the University Institute of Lisbon, and research fellow at the Centre for Military Studies, Stellenbosch University.DennisRodgersis research professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and visiting professor in international development studies at the University of Amsterdam.

• Introduction: Ethnography as ‘Risky Business’Chapter 1: Researching the Politics of Aid in War-torn Societies: The Case of Chalatenango, El SalvadorChapter 2: Dealing with Distrust: A Diplomat-Anthropologist Negotiating Obstacles in Politically Sensitive Urban Fieldwork in SudanChapter 3: Researching security in Africa as the “Sierra Foxtrot Golf”Chapter 4: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Negotiating Identity in Fieldwork Among the National Civil Police in GuatemalaChapter 5: “Doctor, How Can We Improve Our Image in Europe?”: Researching War and Peace in Colombia as an Ethnographer-ConsultantChapter 6: Interviewing Revolutionary Generations in Latin America: A Personal MemoirChapter 7: “You are not like the Ladinos at all”: Reflections on Fieldwork, Cataloguing the Researcher and Knowledge ProductionChapter 8: Keeping a Distance? Dealing With Perpetrators of Violence in a Guatemalan TownChapter 9: From 'Broder' to 'Don': Methodological Reflections on Longitudinal Gang Research in NicaraguaChapter 10: Interpretation of Dreams and Humor in Affective Fieldwork on State Violence in ArgentinaChapter 11: Swimming with Former Combatants: Ethics and Pragmatics of Fieldwork in Post War zones in Sri LankaChapter 12: Ethical Issues Raised by Legal Anthropological Research on Local Dispute Settlement in EcuadorChapter 13: Security at Stake: Dealingwith Violence and Public (In)security in a Popular Neighborhood in Guadalajara, MexicoChapter 14: Among Comrades: (Dis)trust in Ethnographic Fieldwork with Former Salvadoran RevolutionariesChapter 15: Embedded Ethnography: Conflict Research Through an International Peace Mission in ColombiaChapter 16: Fieldwork Frontiers: Danger, Uncertainty, and Limitations During Research with Former Combatants in Mozambique

A must-read for undergraduate and graduate students of conflict and violence! It is theoretically interesting, reflecting a deep, long-term engagement around the University of Utrecht on issues of conflict, social exclusion and marginalization. It is methodologically important, developing an ethical ethnography so much more interesting than the stale rehearsals of ethics boards. Each contributor brings something important to the table, while at the same time maintaining a conversation across each chapter. No small feat at all!