Social Movements and Ethnographic Methodologies: An Analysis Using Case Study Examples

Abstract

This paper defines and discusses the viability and applicability of specific ethnographic methods for the study and theorising of social movements and related social mobilisation. Ethnographic methods are shown to be one tool in a box of available methods, but are perhaps especially suited for the in-depth study of social movements and social networks. Pros and cons of such methods are identified, using examples drawn from an ethnographic narrative comprising over a decade of research; ethnography of UK environmental direct activists, and more recent ethnography of UK publics engaging with human genetic technologies. Ethnography enables developments in latent social interactions to be identified in the field, providing data sources that inform social analysis and the development of theoretical stakes. This ethnographic narrative has contributed to the theorising of complexity in movement collective identity and complex social mobilisation patterns; namely the theorising of social movement. Findings can be disseminated to a range of stakeholders, including the research participants. Thus, ethnography can be both a method for studying social movements and a means of 'upstream' public engagement, understanding what is happening at the grassroots, with the aim of enabling capacity building between all actors in the research process. This methodological rationale is defined as 'action research'.1524 Using Ethnographic Methods to Understand Social Movements

What’s the problem with Brexit? Notes from the middle of Britain’s crisis

“…This decision allowed me to take on a more explicitly participatory role throughout the course of my research, self-consciously adopting more of an 'insider' position in this setting. For Alexandra Plows, taking an insider position comes with certain pros and cons: on the one hand, "the identification of shared narratives, experiences, histories […] means that a rapport between researcher and researched is easily established" (Plows 2008(Plows , 1530. This is especially important in ethnographic settings where 'gatekeeping' occurs, which applies in many cases to social movement activities.…”

The impossibility of engaged research: Complicity and accountability between researchers, ‘publics’ and institutions

“…Having always worked in and through public and global health, I judged myself relatively pragmatic when it came to translating ethnographic data into other disciplinary approaches and conceptual frameworks. In global health, ethnography is often understood and instrumentalised as a form of cultural expertise (Biruk, 2019), a tool for eliciting perspectives and experiences; indeed, it is sometimes taken to be a kind of 'upstream public engagement' (Plows, 2008), as much a tool for eliciting and figuring responses as for observing and analysing attitudes and behaviour. Medical anthropologists have written extensively about the complicities that arise from acting as embedded or engaged ethnographers in settings such as clinical trials and public health interventions (Nelson, 2019;Pigg, 2013).…”

A feminist and decolonial perspective on passing the test in activist ethnography

“…Activist ethnography in organization studies has significantly increased in the last decade. It followed the epistemological practice turn that allowed activists of alterglobalization protests ( Juris, 2007), occupy (Graeber, 2009) and eco-sabotage (Plows, 2008) to legitimately present their experiences as relevant knowledge on politics and organizational strategies (Maeckelbergh, 2009). "Activist ethnography" became the formalized writing method to turn experiences into academically accepted knowledge.…”

“…"Activist ethnography" became the formalized writing method to turn experiences into academically accepted knowledge. Activist ethnographers have used this academic privilege to tell counter-stories of protest culture and to capture movement knowledge (Kadir, 2016;Katsiaficas, 2006;Plows, 2008). Doing so they have added to knowledge creation within social movements, which takes form in feminist libraries, protest archives and activist publications as independently produced magazines, newspapers and books.…”

“…Activist ethnography therefore should hold a commitment to use feminist or prefigurative epistemologies (Luchies, 2015;Harding, 1986Harding, , 1987Hartsock, 1987;Haraway, 1991;Hill Collins, 1986, 1990. This means that the purpose of knowledge production is political transformation and that the methodology used should mirror the anti-oppressive values of activist movements ( Juris, 2007;Graeber, 2009;Plows, 2008;Maeckelbergh, 2009). The method usedthe means of knowledge productioncannot be separated from the outcome of the research process.…”