Researching the Middle East - (Research Methods for the Arts and Humanities) by Lorraine Charles & Ilan Pappé & Monica Ronchi (Paperback)

About the Book

16 researchers share their invaluable first-hand experiences and examine the cultural, conceptual, methodological and practical challenges of working on and in MENA region.

Book Synopsis

The core mission of this textbook is to help and support both new and established scholars looking to expand their research in the Middle East and North Africa, navigating issues that relate to positionality, ethics and ethnocentric biases. 16 researchers share their invaluable first-hand experiences and examine the cultural, conceptual, methodological and practical challenges of working on and in MENA region.

From the Back Cover

Addresses the practical and theoretical issues faced by researchers working in and on the Middle East and North Africa Researching the Middle East is a challenge for both new and seasoned researchers. Ensuring rigour, providing a theoretical grounding and accommodating the Middle Eastern perspective are all essential when it comes to avoiding orientalist perspectives and maintaining an inclusive attitude towards all experiences of research in the area. The core mission of this textbook is to help and support both new and established scholars looking to expand their research down different and possibly challenging avenues, navigating issues that relate to positionality, ethics and ethnocentric biases. Sixteen researchers share their invaluable first-hand experiences and examine the cultural, conceptual, methodological and practical challenges of working on and in MENA region. Key Features ● Divided into four sections covering core themes: researching political dynamics; identity and positionality in research; conducting ethnographic research; and research through text, symbols and technology ● Focuses on methodology, combining researchers' experiences with theoretical and conceptual analysis ● Fourteen case studies explore specific, frequently encountered issues: from the challenges of doing research in conflict zones to working with interpreters and navigating the problems of researching 'terrorism' ● Includes a variety of perspectives to allow a critical understanding of the methodological challenges in Middle East studies Lorraine Charles is a Research Associate at the Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge and Co-Lead of the Digital Skills and Digital Work project at the Centre for the Study of Global Human Movement, University of Cambridge. Ilan Pappé is Professor of History and Director for the European Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter. Monica Ronchi is a social entrepreneur working in the education sector in Europe and the Middle East.

About the Author

Lorraine Charles is a Research Associate at the Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge and Co-Lead of the Digital Skills and Digital Work project at the Centre for the Study of Global Human Movement, University of Cambridge.

Ilan Pappé is Professor of History and Director for the European Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter. He is author of numerous books, the most recent being The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine (Oneworld, 2015), The Idea of Israel (Verso, 2014) and The Modern Middle East; A Social and Cultural History (Routledge, 2014).

Monica Ronchi is a social entrepreneur working in the education sector in Europe and the Middle East.