Positionality, power, and reciprocity: Rethinking reflexive methodology in terrorism research

In reflexive methodology in terrorism studies and international security broadly, there are arguments about the absence of African voices, the lack thereof contributing to standardizing the fieldwork experiences of Western terrorism scholars as ‘one-size-fits-all’. However, while the voices of African-based scholars, particularly those based in the West, are increasingly being reflected in reflexive methodology in international security, we know little about how shared national belongingness and its associated cultural norms between the researcher and the researched influence the process of elite interviewing. This article addresses these limitations by reflecting on my experiences as a Nigerian conducting elite interviews with fellow nationals who are counter-terrorism security elites (CTSE) in Nigeria. In doing so, I examine the concepts of seniority, hierarchy, and reciprocity – important social norms that, while present in many contexts, take on distinctive meanings within counter-terrorism institutions in Nigeria – on data access and knowledge production. I contend that the shared cultural understanding between the researcher and CTSE study participants leads them to deploy these norms to foster post-fieldwork relational positionalities, which are used to advance their personal or career interests. This situation results in specific methodological and ethical dilemmas, which are addressed by engaging with and integrating these norms to resolve them. This article contributes to reflexive methodology in terrorism by nuancing the debate on situational ethics management in fieldwork dilemmas and advocating for context-based positionality.