Autoethnography and political studies
Autoethnography and political studies
This chapter combines ethnography, autobiography, literature, and political science. Autoethnography refers to using self-reflection to explore anecdotal and personal experience, and connecting this story to wider cultural, political, and social meanings and understandings. However, political scientists are holding out against autoethnography’ that is, they avoid the personal, especially the emotional aspects of their lives. This chapter tells the story of how I first failed and then succeeded getting a PhD. It then reflects on the personal, political and broader implications of my story. It suggests five lessons for political scientists who need:
To be wary of detachment and accept that every research project is personal by keeping the self and lived experience up-front and centre in research.
To confront our emotions, stress and relationships in fieldwork.
To be more critically self-aware - reflexive.
To explore the self in administration, research and teaching.
To become better writers.
Humanities, political science, area studies, literary criticism, ethnography
107-28
Rhodes, R. A. W.
cdbfb699-ba1a-4ff0-ba2c-060626f72948
2021
Rhodes, R. A. W.
cdbfb699-ba1a-4ff0-ba2c-060626f72948
Rhodes, R. A. W.
(2021)
Autoethnography and political studies.
In,
Rhodes, R. A. W. and Hodgett, Susan
(eds.)
What Political Science can learn from the Humanities : Blurring Genres.
Houndmills, Basingstoke.
Palgrave Macmillan, .
Record type:
Book Section
Abstract
This chapter combines ethnography, autobiography, literature, and political science. Autoethnography refers to using self-reflection to explore anecdotal and personal experience, and connecting this story to wider cultural, political, and social meanings and understandings. However, political scientists are holding out against autoethnography’ that is, they avoid the personal, especially the emotional aspects of their lives. This chapter tells the story of how I first failed and then succeeded getting a PhD. It then reflects on the personal, political and broader implications of my story. It suggests five lessons for political scientists who need:
To be wary of detachment and accept that every research project is personal by keeping the self and lived experience up-front and centre in research.
To confront our emotions, stress and relationships in fieldwork.
To be more critically self-aware - reflexive.
To explore the self in administration, research and teaching.
To become better writers.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 2020
Published date: 2021
Keywords:
Humanities, political science, area studies, literary criticism, ethnography
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 440764
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/440764
PURE UUID: 4205bfa9-788f-49e3-a37b-864e0ab2b589
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 15 May 2020 16:56
Last modified: 23 Feb 2023 02:58
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Contributors
Editor:
R. A. W. Rhodes
Editor:
Susan Hodgett
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