Rumor has it: Strategies for ethnographic analysis in authoritarian regimes

Abstract

Accurate information can be difficult to access in authoritarian regimes. As more and more countries fall under the sway of illiberal leaders, ethnographers may find themselves unable to easily corroborate knowledge that comes from native informants. This article proffers several strategies for researchers to utilize when analyzing unverifiable ethnographic data. Following from sociological and psychological studies of rumor, the article discusses the specific role that rumor plays under conditions of authoritarian governance. Without legal access to information and robust civil liberties and rule of law, it may be risky for researchers and informants alike to dig too deeply into secret information. Assuming that corroboration is impossible, how might an ethnographer analyze the rumors without believing or disputing their factual authenticity? Several possible approaches are offered.