Illegal or unethical? Situated ethics in the context of a dual economy

Bibliographic Data

ID2404013
AuthorsFederica Bono (0000-0002-7314-3091, Old Dominion University, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume20
Issue5
Pages617-631
Publication date2020-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1468-7941 • E-ISSN: 1741-3109
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1468794119886179
OpenAlexW2989835318
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited38

In this paper, I draw on my experiences doing field research in Cuba, to contribute to the idea that participating in illegal activities is not necessarily unethical. Using a reflexive analysis, I argue that as a foreign researcher in Cuba's dual economy, full participation in Cubans' daily life-though illegal for both the researcher and the participants-was necessary to establish trust. This allowed me to gain social access to the field while allowing participants to spread the risk. Ultimately, it led to a more accurate account of Cubans' daily practices through which I was able to address unbalanced and misinformed interpretations of the island and its people, which is crucial in the midst of highly politicized literature on Cuba

Dual purpose · Field research · Geography · Political economy · Political science · Public relations · Reflexivity · Situated · Social science · Sociology · Cuban History and Society · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics