Studying state violence through an embodied approach: methodological reflections

Abstract

This paper explores the methodological complexities of investigating state violence in Türkiye's Kurdish regions through an embodied approach. This perspective involves exploring the perceptions, thoughts, emotions, and institutional practices and cultures of police and military personnel. Conducting embodied research with individuals who may be perpetrators of state violence necessitates addressing numerous methodological challenges. First, I discuss the procedural intricacies of obtaining permission from state authorities to engage with the security bureaucracy. Second, I examine how to construct a conversation setting where participants feel both comfortable and un-threatened throughout the interview, while also enabling me to delve into their perceptions, emotions, and perspectives – insights that are essential for interpreting the dynamics underpinning the emergence of state violence. Finally, I reflect on how the challenges of conducting such research manifested in my own embodied experiences as a researcher, addressing my fears, ethical dilemmas, and the advantages and concerns I perceived regarding my appearance and positionality. The overarching aim of this study is twofold: to advance scholarly discussions on methodological approaches to exploring contentious subjects such as state violence, geographies of killing, and necropolitics and to provide practical guidance for navigating critical methodological challenges – including field access, ethical considerations, and ensuring the safety of both researchers and participants – when conducting research in complex and high-risk contexts.