Abstract
ABSTRACT Dynamics of peace and conflict emerge in the complex non-linear circulation of influence across scales, from the local to the global and back. Recently proposed methodologies for examining these dynamics, whether quantitative (primarily focusing on the macro), or qualitative (primarily focusing on the micro), are distinctly limited. Both struggle to trace influences across the full range of scales, and neither incorporates mechanisms to examine the consistency or divergence between implicit concepts which underpin expectations and experiences of conflict, peace, and peacebuilding. Trans-Scalar Ethnographic Peace Research, however, focusing specifically on these implicit concepts, facilitates examination of complex conflict dynamics across scales.
Highlights
At its heart, this article is about methodology, but not in the sense of describing practical steps for carrying out research
This article seeks, to provide an initial examination of the problematic implications of this challenge for research methods deployed in the field, and to explain why and how a trans-scalar Ethnographic Peace Research (EPR) approach would respond to this challenge
As this article has demonstrated, the nature of conflict and peacebuilding today requires that EPR be extended out from the local in order to better examine the complex interaction of concepts pertinent to peace and conflict dynamics across the local, national, international, and global scales
Summary
This article is about methodology, but not in the sense of describing practical steps for carrying out research. Other efforts, such as Millar’s ethnographic work (2014a) and Firchow and Mac Ginty’s more quantitatively aligned ‘Everyday Peace Indicators’ Project (2017) examine concepts of peace, justice, development, and security at micro-scales, but they do not put equal emphasis or substantial focus on the underpinning concepts motivating peace interventions at higher scales This is a substantial problem for the field because neither of these traditions (quantitative or qualitative) is yet providing any means by which to collect and interpret data which will allow us to understand underlying concepts at different scales and how the divergence across scales is contributing to unpredictable or sub-optimal results; focusing instead only on how actions and processes interact across the scales (as is the focus of process tracing, for example). In examining Tsing’s work, for example, even pessimists may be tempted by just what could be learned if such a process were applied to the study of contemporary peace and conflict
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