Komlan Agbedahin on researching in an African war torn zone

[Richard Pithouse]

The 2012 Critical Studies Seminar Series Hosted by the Departments of Politics and International Studies & Sociology at Rhodes University

Speaker: Komlan Agbedahin,  PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, Rhodes University

Topic: Researching in an African war-torn zone: A walk in a minefield with war profiteers?

Venue: Department of Politics & International Relations Seminar Room

Date & Time: Friday 2 March 2012: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Format:  Komlan Agbedahin will speak to the attached paper for twenty minutes following which questions will be taken.

This paper will soon be placed online at: http://www.ru.ac.za/politics/events/seminarseries/

ABSTRACT

The paper examines the existence of ‘war-profiteering’ and its impact on research
process and findings in war-torn zones in Africa. Many nations in West Africa, North
Africa, Central Africa, the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa are currently bedevilled by
intrastate conflicts ranging from low to high intensity conflicts. Some of the causes
leading to these wars are, the continual refusal of unpatriotic long serving African
leaders to democratically hand over the reins of power, the shift of many guerrilla
armies from their initial liberation goal to predatory warlordism, and the negative
influence of emerging economies upon the African continent. The dysfunction of
regional groups and the African Union characterized by the rehash of conflict prevention
and resolution mechanisms, has dented many peace processes and therefore left many
African protracted conflicts unresolved. Drawing on Congolese and Liberian field
experiences, I argue that one widespread but neglected phenomenon which
characterizes war-affected countries is war-profiteering. The paper argues that the
validity of knowledge produced by scholars particularly in the field of social sciences in
such contexts may be affected by this phenomenon at various levels of the research
process. The paper which is crafted as a research story in the field of sociology serves as
a caution to novice researchers intending to undertake research in war-affected zones
against the negative effects of ‘war-profiteering’. The paper examines the various facets
of ‘war-profiteering’ and further highlights key ethical issues which may affect the
research process, the findings, subsequent research relationship negotiation, the
researcher and the research participants.