Description
Research conducted in violent environments remains largely speculative, with limited insight into how violence shapes the perceptions of those involved (Krause, 2021; Campbell, 2017; Nordstrom & Robben, 1995). While practical and ethical research guidelines emphasize informed consent, risk-benefit analysis, and researcher security, these frameworks often diverge from the actual lived experience (ibid, 2017; Cronin-Furman & Lake, 2018). Consequently, the core focus of research in such settings becomes obscured. Should researchers prioritize the subject matter, the project, or their own safety? These critical considerations, though essential, can seem irrelevant when faced with the immediate reality of violence (Hamber et al., 2015). Originally, my research began as an auto-ethnographic exploration of how communities navigate change. Over time, it evolved, incorporating themes of identity, nationality, citizenship, and belonging, with the eventual overlay of war-time violence. This transformation mirrored my own encounters with war and violence. At the heart of my work are the practical and ethical complexities of conducting research as an auto-ethnographer. Coming from a war-affected community, my research journey has forced me into a liminal space, where identity, belonging, and the ethics of researching under violence are deeply interrogated (Berry et al., 2017; Behar, 2022). This experience has compelled me to expand my understanding of the cyclical nature of violence, through the lens of my own identity and sense of belonging. This project recounts my experience of conducting research under violence and offers new ways of understanding researcher vulnerability, identity dynamics, and adaptive methodological and ethical considerations.
