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International organizations (IOs) are a classic object of study in International Relations. However, if their status – tools in the hands of states, independant actors on the international scene, institutions with relative autonomy – is the subject of much debate, the research methods relevant to an...

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Main Author: Lucile Maertens
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Presses universitaires de Paris Nanterre 2016-12-01
Series:Terrains/Théories
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/teth/749
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author Lucile Maertens
author_facet Lucile Maertens
author_sort Lucile Maertens
collection DOAJ
description International organizations (IOs) are a classic object of study in International Relations. However, if their status – tools in the hands of states, independant actors on the international scene, institutions with relative autonomy – is the subject of much debate, the research methods relevant to analyze them are rarely discussed. If participant observation is actually implemented to study IOs from within, little is said on the contributions of an ethnographic approach – why to use it – on the one hand, and on techniques to apply it – how to use it – on the other one. This article aims to fill this gap. It first shows that the practice of immersion within an IO can reveal the internal processes of agenda setting and of policy making that shape the international scene and define what “global” means. Based on our experience as a participant observer within the United Nations, it then provides the steps and “tricks” to open the black box of IOs. This article hence contributes to boader reflections on the relevance of participant observation in the study of global issues.
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spelling doaj.art-a5d052ffb0ac4546b52fe6e2684a653f2022-12-22T01:20:02ZfraPresses universitaires de Paris NanterreTerrains/Théories2427-91882016-12-01510.4000/teth.749Ouvrir la boîte noireLucile MaertensInternational organizations (IOs) are a classic object of study in International Relations. However, if their status – tools in the hands of states, independant actors on the international scene, institutions with relative autonomy – is the subject of much debate, the research methods relevant to analyze them are rarely discussed. If participant observation is actually implemented to study IOs from within, little is said on the contributions of an ethnographic approach – why to use it – on the one hand, and on techniques to apply it – how to use it – on the other one. This article aims to fill this gap. It first shows that the practice of immersion within an IO can reveal the internal processes of agenda setting and of policy making that shape the international scene and define what “global” means. Based on our experience as a participant observer within the United Nations, it then provides the steps and “tricks” to open the black box of IOs. This article hence contributes to boader reflections on the relevance of participant observation in the study of global issues.http://journals.openedition.org/teth/749Ethnographieméthodologieobservation participanteONUorganisation internationale
spellingShingle Lucile Maertens
Ouvrir la boîte noire
Terrains/Théories
Ethnographie
méthodologie
observation participante
ONU
organisation internationale
title Ouvrir la boîte noire
title_full Ouvrir la boîte noire
title_fullStr Ouvrir la boîte noire
title_full_unstemmed Ouvrir la boîte noire
title_short Ouvrir la boîte noire
title_sort ouvrir la boite noire
topic Ethnographie
méthodologie
observation participante
ONU
organisation internationale
url http://journals.openedition.org/teth/749
work_keys_str_mv AT lucilemaertens ouvrirlaboitenoire