ABSTRACT
Ethnographic fieldwork requires intensive and often immersive participation in the community that is the subject of research. This research method is fraught with challenges when the subjects of research are far-right movements, whether non-violent or violent. For Researchers of Colour (ROCs), fieldwork on far-right movements may be deemed impossible given the unique challenges around access, safety, exposure to racism, and objectivity. This chapter draws on the author’s experiences as a female ROC carrying out fieldwork on the far right in Sweden, to reflect on the limitations and possibilities of ethnography under these circumstances. It addresses the need to adjust the framework of inquiry surrounding ‘unsympathetic’ research subjects, assess positionality of the ROC, manage the problematic identity of the ROC among far-right subjects, and navigate practical challenges such as negotiating access, safety, and the emotional impact of interviews and participant observation. The continued absence of this fieldwork risks perpetuating a significant gap in the field, and Ramalingam argues that there are far more possibilities than limitations to ROC-led fieldwork on the far right. However, these researchers must structure their approach and analyse their data in the context of their own racial identity and its implications.
