Fox, Nicole, Davey, Christopher P., Hsiao, Elaine Lan Yin, Kuradusenge-McLeod, Claudine, Lakin, Samantha J., Rafferty, Judith, and Wolfe, Stephanie (2025) Lessons from the Field: Experts Weigh in on Years of Conducting Fieldwork in Post-Atrocity Zones. Journal of Genocide Research, 27 (2). pp. 261-280.

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Abstract

Conducting research in post-atrocity settings contributes to broader societal efforts to address the legacies of genocide, promote justice, and educate the public in ways that foster a more inclusive future for affected societies. At the same time, such fieldwork requires a heightened level of care for research participants, researchers, and their team. By highlighting the complex dynamics of international research in communities recovering from mass violence, this fieldwork reflection aims to demystify aspects of fieldwork in such contexts. We collectively write this piece, drawing on decades of combined experience researching and writing about post-atrocity settings in more than fifteen countries [These countries include Armenia, Burundi, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Poland, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Rwanda, South Africa, South Korea, and Uganda]. Focused on our personal experiences, we offer five lessons that address dynamics of marginalization in the field, interrogation of researcher positionality, secondary trauma, trust building, and navigating research-related bureaucracy.

Item ID:	89147
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1469-9494
Keywords:	fieldwork, positionality, post-atrocity, secondary trauma, trust
Copyright Information:	© 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Research Data:	ttps://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2025.2500140
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2025 22:30
FoR Codes:	44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4404 Development studies > 440402 Humanitarian disasters, conflict and peacebuilding @ 50% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4410 Sociology > 441006 Sociological methodology and research methods @ 50%
SEO Codes:	23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2303 International relations > 230305 Peace and conflict @ 50% 23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2301 Community services > 230108 Gender and sexualities @ 50%
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