Considering nationality and performativity: undertaking research across the geopolitical divide in the Falkland Islands and Argentina

Abstract

This paper explores the substantial challenges of doing research with citizens living in nation-states on different sides of a geopolitical dispute. It draws on an on-going research project being undertaken in Argentina, the Falkland Islands and the UK focusing on tensions in the South Atlantic over the status of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. Geographical research that looks to examine the impacts of geopolitics on everyday lives is increasingly commonplace and some of this work is being undertaken in politically volatile and (post)conflict settings. Set in this context, the paper argues that more attention needs to be placed on the process of doing this kind of research in ways that take account of researcher-researched relations, performance and positionality. First, it argues that doing multi-sited geographical research of this nature can enable and disable relations with respondents in ways that require constant analysis during fieldwork. The prevailing historical, socio-cultural, (geo)political and temporal dynamics of research encounters must be sensitively considered. Second, national identity was consistently referenced in my field diary entries and the paper contends that this aspect of researcher identity has been neglected in discussions of positionality. Drawing on theoretical literatures that discuss the performance of national identity, the paper suggests how researchers might think more self-reflexively about nationality and its performativity through the doing of research.

Militantly ‘studying up’? (Ab)using whiteness for oppositional research

“…At times I was even approached and interviews offered to me – most surprisingly when, unsolicited, a national government representative sought me out to organise an interview for/with their boss. Like Benwell (), the ‘outsider’ status of my nationality had tangible benefits. Mediated through the ‘prestige’ of university affiliation, it was assumed that, at worst, I was some neutral arbiter of migration policy.…”

Connecting ontological (in)securities and generation through the everyday and emotional geopolitics of Falkland Islanders

“…The Falkland Islands have attracted increasing amounts of media attention in recent years (due to events like the 30 th anniversary of the Falklands War and the 2013 referendum) and as a result the government have a pool of community representatives who are available to speak to journalists and researchers about their lives. This can make it more challenging to access youth who are not as (geo)politically vocal, especially in a small island community like the Falklands (see Benwell, 2014b).…”

“…The award of funding from the Leverhulme Trust made possible two fieldtrips to the Falklands in 2013 and 2015. These enabled a further five young women and one young man to be interviewed, as well as facilitating additional ethnographic and archival research in the Islands' capital Stanley (these explored a range of topics explored further in Benwell, 2014aBenwell, , 2014bBenwell, , 2016a. The research followed ethical guidelines set out by those undertaking research with children and youth in the social studies of childhood (e.g.…”

“…Critical considerations of positionality are necessary when undertaking any qualitative research and this study was no exception (Rose, 1993). My identity as a British national (alongside gender, ethnicity, generation and so on) conducting research on/in the Falkland Islands was regularly reflected on in my field diary and is explored in greater depth elsewhere (Benwell, 2014b). There is a risk that island communities are framed as a curiosity to be 'gazed' at by more mobile, 'cosmopolitan' academic researchers, so careful thought went into how the research was introduced and the phrasing of interview questions (Smith, 2010).…”

Insider/Outsider Issues for Development Researchers from the Global South

“…Methodologically, the argument has called for an increased emphasis on reflexivity and positionality (Cupples and Kindon ; Rose ). Some researchers have examined the methodological and ethical challenges of ‘insider‐ness’ (Chacko and George ; Ganga and Scott ; Ite ; Labaree ; Mandiyanike ; Mohammad ; Reay ) and ‘outsider‐ness’ (Benwell ; Cupples and Kindon ; Twyman et al ). Together, they have highlighted some of the challenges of the insider/outsider dichotomy and its effects on the outcome of data collection and analysis within qualitative research.…”