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Researching ‘Militant Groups’

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Abstract

The chapter reflects on the author’s experiences as a Ph.D. student in Belfast in the mid-1980s conducting research on militant groups. It considers issues of security, ethics and access and juxtaposes the author’s experiences with what is ‘meant to happen’ according to the textbooks. The chapter illustrates the value of patience, of good luck and also considers the (dis)advantages of conducting research in one’s home city.

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Correspondence to James W. McAuley .

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McAuley, J.W. (2021). Researching ‘Militant Groups’. In: Mac Ginty, R., Brett, R., Vogel, B. (eds) The Companion to Peace and Conflict Fieldwork. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46433-2_9

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