Researching in the Former Soviet Union: Stories from the Field

This book explores the challenges of conducting fieldwork in the former Soviet region, including issues of inclusion, exclusion, personal safety, and high-risk research, and discusses how researchers' subjectivities shape their experiences and the ways to continue research through digital methods.

Format: Hardback
Length: 154 pages
Publication date: 09 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive guide is specifically tailored for early-career scholars who are currently in the initial phases of their research endeavors in the former Soviet region. It delves into the various challenges researchers encounter when conducting fieldwork in this unique and complex area. By addressing key questions such as the difficulties faced by scholars, particularly females, in conducting research, the book explores how an early-career scholar's positionality, including factors such as nationality, ethnicity, and sexuality, shapes their experiences of inclusion, exclusion, and access while conducting fieldwork. Additionally, it sheds light on the critical aspects of personal safety in the field and provides valuable insights into the strategies employed by junior academics to successfully undertake high-risk research.

The book features contributions from both regional and Western scholars, with a particular focus on how researchers' subjectivities influence their reception and interactions within the region. This interplay between researchers and their local contexts not only shapes the research itself but also has a significant impact on the way the findings are communicated and disseminated. Furthermore, the book explores innovative approaches to continuing research beyond the physical boundaries of the field, utilizing digital methods to overcome barriers to access when physical presence is not feasible.

By providing a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the challenges and opportunities inherent in conducting fieldwork in the former Soviet region, this guide serves as a valuable resource for early-career scholars embarking on this research journey. It offers valuable insights, practical strategies, and thought-provoking discussions that will assist scholars in navigating the complexities of this dynamic and challenging field.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367699932