From Practice to Theory and Back Again: Working on Conflict and Peace in the Asia-Pacific

Abstract

This essay reflects on my journey from working in NGOs and
evaluation to academic research on conflict and peace. Drawing on
experiences in Myanmar and the Philippines, I discuss how working
in conflict-affected settings has changed the way I approach research.
In Myanmar, I learned that involving local researchers does not
necessarily mean sharing control over the research process. In
Mindanao, restrictions on travel led us to develop a different approach
to fieldwork, one that relied on local researchers and challenged my
assumptions about the importance of international researchers being
physically present. These experiences also raised questions about
what research and evaluation can reasonably claim, particularly in
peacebuilding and efforts to prevent violent extremism. I argue that
good research depends on understanding the context, recognising the
different contributions of researchers, and being willing to adapt
methods when circumstances demand it. Throughout, I show how
practice continues to shape my research questions, while academic
work helps me think more carefully about the problems I encounter
in practice.