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Centre for Discourse Analysis May 14th, 2007

Methodological, Conceptual and Methodological, Conceptual and Theoretical Reflections when doing Theoretical Reflections when doing

Research among/with Ethnic Minority Research among/with Ethnic Minority GroupsGroups

Annette Kanstrup-JensenAnnette Kanstrup-Jensen

Centre for Development and International RelationsCentre for Development and International Relations

Faculty of Social Sciences, AAUFaculty of Social Sciences, AAU

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PhD: ”Development Theory and the

Ethnicity Question – The Cases of the Lao People’s Democratic

Republic and Thailand”

(Research Framework: Education and (Research Framework: Education and Human Development)Human Development)

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Indigeneity:Indigeneity:

””Indigenous populations are composed of the existing Indigenous populations are composed of the existing descendants of peoples who inhabited the present descendants of peoples who inhabited the present territory of a country wholly or partially at the time territory of a country wholly or partially at the time when persons of a different culture or ethnic origin when persons of a different culture or ethnic origin arrived from other parts of the world, overcame them, arrived from other parts of the world, overcame them, and by conquest, settlements or other means, reduced and by conquest, settlements or other means, reduced them to a non-dominant or colonial situation; who today them to a non-dominant or colonial situation; who today live more in conformity with their particularlive more in conformity with their particular social, social, economic and cultural customs and traditions rather than economic and cultural customs and traditions rather than with the institutions of the country of which they now with the institutions of the country of which they now form a part, under a state structure which incorporates form a part, under a state structure which incorporates mainly the national, social and cultural characteristics of mainly the national, social and cultural characteristics of other segments of the population which are other segments of the population which are predominant” predominant”

((Karena Shaw 2002: ”Indigeneity and the International”, Karena Shaw 2002: ”Indigeneity and the International”, Journal of Journal of International Studies Vol.31 No 1,pp.55-81)International Studies Vol.31 No 1,pp.55-81)

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Methodological ReflectionsMethodological Reflections

””reversals in learning”reversals in learning”””have have youyou come to ask me, normally come to ask me, normally theythey come and tell us what to do” come and tell us what to do”

(Sohtou, Ban Houaytoumay, Lao PDR) (Sohtou, Ban Houaytoumay, Lao PDR)

“ “ whose side are we on” whose side are we on” - - authenticity in the relationshipauthenticity in the relationship - trustworthiness- trustworthiness - the dichotomy of knowledge- the dichotomy of knowledge - power equalisation- power equalisation - ethics- ethics - political process- political process

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Conceptual Reflections:Conceptual Reflections:

The Dichotomy between Western Paradigms and Indigenous The Dichotomy between Western Paradigms and Indigenous EpistemologyEpistemology

1.1. Cultural ethnocentrism:Cultural ethnocentrism: Modern traditionalModern traditional

(”stereotypification” of non-Western cultures) (”stereotypification” of non-Western cultures) (linguistic and conceptual ignorance of non-Western cultures) (linguistic and conceptual ignorance of non-Western cultures) (reification of researched (reification of researched groups)groups)

2.2. Epistemological ethnocentrism:Epistemological ethnocentrism: Education equates schoolingEducation equates schooling (de-legitimisation of non-Western (de-legitimisation of non-Western learning) learning) (hierarchy of knowledge /horizontal vs. (hierarchy of knowledge /horizontal vs.

vertical ordering ofvertical ordering of different but equally valid systems)different but equally valid systems)

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Theoretical Reflections (1)

””Theory is always Theory is always forfor some one, and some one, and forfor some purpose” some purpose”(Robert Cox)(Robert Cox)

Marginalised populations groups “Marginalised populations groups “Human RightsHuman Rights Heterogeneity in so-called developing countries Rationale Theories” Heterogeneity in so-called developing countries Rationale Theories”

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1.1. Why do established theories fail to explain the situation of Why do established theories fail to explain the situation of indigenous peoples?indigenous peoples?

2. How do ideas from grounded theory offer help in re-visiting the 2. How do ideas from grounded theory offer help in re-visiting the concept of theory?concept of theory?

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Theoretical reflections (2)

Ad 1) Ad 1) conceptual and cultural arroganceconceptual and cultural arrogance atomisation of modes of explanationatomisation of modes of explanation

Ad 2)Ad 2) the raison d’être of theories is about making sense of the the raison d’être of theories is about making sense of the

worldworld collected data constitute the pivotal point in any studycollected data constitute the pivotal point in any study

(not how but who should build the theory)(not how but who should build the theory)

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How to avoid a methodological, conceptual and theoretical void ?

de-colonisation of development theoriesde-colonisation of development theories dissolution between theory and methodology dissolution between theory and methodology validation of indigenous discourses (endogenous..)validation of indigenous discourses (endogenous..) accept of cultural heterogeneity as a counterhegemonic accept of cultural heterogeneity as a counterhegemonic

realityreality

”…”…pour qu’ils aient du contact avec la civilisation”pour qu’ils aient du contact avec la civilisation”(General Director of Primary Education, Lao PDR)(General Director of Primary Education, Lao PDR)

“…“…il ne faut pas les laisser dans des musées”il ne faut pas les laisser dans des musées”(Vice-minister of Education, Lao PDR)(Vice-minister of Education, Lao PDR)