Fieldwork in Difficult Environments

Fieldwork in difficult environments - Methodology as boundary work in development research contains personal accounts of PhD researchers on doing field research in politically and otherwise difficult environments. The methodological flexibility required in development research is discussed around four themes: cultural difference; methodological style and the scale level; communication and interaction; and political and ethical legitimacy. The volume argues that the choice and deployment of methodology is an ongoing, reflexive process of "boundary work".

The editors

Caleb R.L. Wall graduated from ZEF with a PhD in 2006 and is a freelance consultant who currently works in Kazakhstan, Russia and increasingly in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Peter P. Mollinga is Senior Researcher "Natural Resources and Social Dynamics" at ZEF since 2004. He works on water, politics and development, particularly in Asia.