Piotr, I'd say it depends on the source of hostility. If the source is the state or local criminal organizations, you'd best keep a low profile. If the source is the people in the community, then you'd do well to work with them, even tailor your research to be of use to them. I've had students work in the shadow of the Yakuza in Japan and of the Mexican government. In all cases they were open with the folks in the community about what they were doing, discussed their research with them and asked how it might be tailored to fit their needs. No pretensions of objectivity but honesty about orientation. In Japan those whose struggles were being studied were Thai bar women, in Mexico women struggling for water in poor barrios and in another place women struggling in foreign assembly plants. The results in all cases were interesting, of use to the folks in struggle and in two cases the dissertations became books - tailored to be of more use to those in struggle than to those hostile to those struggles. One such book:

The Terror of the Machine: Technology, Work, Gender, and Ecology on the U.S.-Mexico Border https://smile.amazon.com/Terror-Machine-Technology-U-S-Mexico-Migration/dp/0292765614/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Terror+of+the+Machine&qid=1606907214&s=books&sr=1-3

Piotr, I'd say it depends on the source of hostility. If the source is the state or local criminal organizations, you'd best keep a low profile. If the source is the people in the community, then you'd do well to work with them, even tailor your research to be of use to them. I've had students work in the shadow of the Yakuza in Japan and of the Mexican government. In all cases they were open with the folks in the community about what they were doing, discussed their research with them and asked how it might be tailored to fit their needs. No pretensions of objectivity but honesty about orientation. In Japan those whose struggles were being studied were Thai bar women, in Mexico women struggling for water in poor barrios and in another place women struggling in foreign assembly plants. The results in all cases were interesting, of use to the folks in struggle and in two cases the dissertations became books - tailored to be of more use to those in struggle than to those hostile to those struggles. One such book:

The Terror of the Machine: Technology, Work, Gender, and Ecology on the U.S.-Mexico Border https://smile.amazon.com/Terror-Machine-Technology-U-S-Mexico-Migration/dp/0292765614/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Terror+of+the+Machine&qid=1606907214&s=books&sr=1-3

Harry Cleaver thank you for your answer and the book reference. I agree, however I suppose sometimes it is both local criminal organizations and government that cause hostility. Probably it was my case in my ethnographic studies of Mexican communities involved in dug dealing and work for cartels (DTOs). Sometimes I think that qualitative methodology underestimate some emotional aspects of doing field research (emotional work, corporal reactions etc). Some of field-related experiences we published here: Article Front Business–Back Business: The Social Anatomy of Small-Ti...

I agree with Harry that it vastly depends on the source of the hostility, and would need to be carefully considered. This could preferably be done with the help of a local/member of teh culture. To add to the already very interesting examples given above, I just wanted to add the example of the near-impossibly of gathering anonymous data when researching sign language; not only does the signing need to be recorded, usually two camera's are recommended, and the communities are small. The slow speed at which sign language can be transcribed (at the moment - who knows what will be possible in the future!), adds to the difficulties sign linguists face in gathering enough evidence and data from certain Deaf and signing communities. I hope this example, while perhaps not what you were looking for, might be of some use to you nevertheless.

Regards,

S. Schrey

To work or to do research in hostile environments in my opinion have less to with a methodology, but mostly have to do with the purpose. Couple years ago, I was working with a gipsy community trying to bring "aid" by using sports (soccer), by helping children to spend time in a type of positive activity. I remember in one instance, as I was talking to families to get the permit for their children to come to a specific location where I rented a soccer field, a mother of ones of the children looked in my eyes and said: "If something happens to my son, I will kill you.". The internal personal motivation and purpose needs to be very high in order to take the risks of working or researching in hostile environments. In Romania generally gipsy communities (they are called "Roms") are trapped in a cycle of poverty, and they blame the Romanians, the majority of population for their misery. Romanians blame the Roms for their fate and accuse them of being thieves and lazy people. It was an eye opening to enter the Roms homes, talk, eat, befriend, and work with them. After a time, after they've seen the genuinely of my intentions and the help with the children's activities, they accepted me with joy and not with hostility, expressing more of their feelings and idea with me, even joking on my behalf. The willingness to "become" close to the people, and serving the people in their needs, helped me see them, their life and hearts, and I ended up expressing my compassion for them. As a result they embraced me in, even I was a Romanian. After being "in", I did have the chance and relational right to also address some difficult issues that were present in their communities. In my experience the involvement of the researcher is holistically, and that includes the emotions too. I was positioned way more better regarding learning and serving the gispy community than any other Romanian that was interacting with them, like for example the school teacher that gave them low grades constantly, but she never visited them home. To know somebody it is always a matter of closeness, but it is more difficult to be close to hostile people or into hostile environments. It is like a "hit and miss", you will know more, and see more, as you are "diving" more in.

Sofie Schrey thank you for this out of the box example. Probably your solution would be very fruitful in research conditions where camera use would be allowed. In my case no camera nor recording devices are allowed because community members involved in drug production and dealing for obvious reasons do not let to record an interview. However, I agree that locals/members are key persons that might contribute to research. Thank you.

Julien Ghitescu thank you for your example. It is very important case of getting close to observed community. Where can I read about your methodological experiences?

Dear Piotr, as I was saying, I think the methodology is secondary, the heart to do it is primary. If somebody is passionate for a cause or people, will find ways to be close. Unfortunately, I am not keeping records from that period, as I started to study Anthropology just 3 years ago, but I do have recorded the model I used in that time, and observations about Romanian culture present in the football (soccer) environment, specific in training children. Not sure if it helps, but the following link is all I have. :) Article Romanian Football Player's Development - 360° Holistic Coaching Model

Julien Ghitescu thank you for your help. I am curious about your model and I will read your article carefully.

Good Afternoon,

I hope these links will provide you with some answers to your question/dilemma.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Surviving_Field_Research/qFB5AgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=qualitative+field+research+and+hostile+environment&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover

Article A Theory of Qualitative Methodology: The Social System of An...

https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Handbook_for_Social_Science_Field_Rese/jm_2TET15rgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=qualitative+field+research+and+hostile+environment&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover

https://ajot.aota.org/article.aspx?articleid=1869256

https://academic.oup.com/applij/article/41/5/662/5488143

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1440783305053238?casa_token=nQXpkY3oUwwAAAAA:VZ5sHrQHgozz3glWBTsL-QT5WM7Fd-oFJWr7wUqYWqrZP0uiMFBs-Lyeh6du7B6XURf62qu8lzsNZA

Article Disciplining Qualitative Research

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/14439883200600005/full/html

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Key_Themes_in_Qualitative_Research/HAuZYsvg0vkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=qualitative+field+research+and+hostile+environment&pg=PR7&printsec=frontcover

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1468794109356736?casa_token=yPZXWS9IUGAAAAAA:G00lxtm1J3QaFmlDdnuitmZnWiLoqwOvKlxzeL63ffGMucy7ne5p1Qth5wMhkD6pujxeqAw6kEzZPQ

"Julien thank you for this answer. Your experience is very similar to mine. Have you ever been encouraged by the community to take part in any illegal activity? – Piotr Chomczyński"

R: The majority of them kind of read fast what type of person you are, and were fair with me, but in every family, as they have many children and live in a small space with more related families, were some of them that wanted to profit from me asking me to lend them money for an urgent matter. Usually was about money. I asked good questions and their story down the road didn't stand; the lie surfaced at some point in it. Once, one of them wanted to buy a chainsaw, and the discount offer at a specific hardware store was limited to that day, he said. He needed extra money to buy it, and he said that will help him find a job to cut wood in people's yards, as it was winter season. He said that he will return me the money the next week as they receive the monthly governmental social help money. I decided to help him, but I wanted to see that he really buys it, so I drove him to the store. I found out that the discount was available till the end of the year, so I said to him that he can buy it from his own money next week, but that was not the case; couple weeks later I found out from his son that he went to Greece to find work. Not sure what he did there as he was not speaking English or Greek language. Other times they want to sell me cars, but I decline it as I have a car already. The only illegal activity I was pursued by one of them was to kidnap a person. The story I've been told is that this man wanted to kidnap a women that he was in affair with from her husband. He insisted for me to help him with my car as a driver. I told him that if that women wants to run with him, he can use a taxi, but he wasn't happy with it, because he wanted to go to a different city 25 km away. In that case the man got very upset and angry with me and for a while I avoided contact with his family. It took half of year to be able to go back to his home (yard), when I helped his brother in law to dress his wooden house in plastic, because inside in winter was so cold that their food froze in the pot. Were moments when I was angry with them, give up on them, or I didn't trust them. Many things I did good in relationship with them, but the extreme hostile environments made me reach my limits more faster, the stress is higher since all was so unusual for me, it was extreme. They live it daily, I may be able to be present in it just for couple hours in a day. Human beings are so vulnerable, but in the same time so resilient to a harsh environment. All these memories makes me sad, because I couldn't do more than I did, and what I did, was not changing any lives for better, it was just a moment of happiness, or a smile brought on a child's face. After that we both went home, on our separate ways and with our separate lives...

Forgive me for my long reply, I got my emotions going on as I was writing to you. The emotions are still alive inside of me, way longer after I was out of the hostile environment, as I live now in a different country. Piotr, you are special, doing what are you doing, acknowledging their life and struggle. It makes them feel known by you, and when they are known and accepted by somebody, they also feel loved. Hostile people needs to feel loved, because love may be the only way that helps them move forward.

Toieya Jiles thank you for the links. I'm sure they are helpful. Have a good day.

Well from the experiences, BE INVISIBLE. means Just Observe by becoming part of the population. ANd be well informed about the unlawful activities around the study area and also keep well informed the authorities about ur presence in your study area.

Nivedita Dhiman thank you for this advice, however it is hard to be invisible in communities involved in drug trafficking and production. Also informing the authorities might be both risky and doubtful.