Stories From The Field

Stories from the Field

What do you do if you get stuck in an elevator in Mogadishu? How worried should you be about being followed after an interview with a ring of human traffickers in Lebanon? What happens to your research if you get placed on a government watchlist? And what if you find yourself feeling like you just aren’t cut out for fieldwork? Stories from the Field is a relatable, thoughtful, and unorthodox guide to field research in political science. It features personal stories from working political scientists: some funny, some dramatic, all fascinating and informative. Political scientists from a diverse range of biographical and academic backgrounds describe research in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, ranging from archival work to interviews with combatants. In sharing their stories, the book’s forty-four contributors provide accessible illustrations of key concepts, including specific research methods like conducting surveys and interviews, practical questions of health and safety, and general principles such as the importance of flexibility, creativity, and interpersonal connections. The contributors reflect not only on their own experiences but also on larger questions about research ethics, responsibility, and the effects of their personal and professional identities on their fieldwork. Stories from the Field is an essential resource for graduate and advanced undergraduate students learning about field research methods, as well as established scholars contemplating new journeys into the field.

Stories from the Field

Surviving in the Field of International Arbitration: War Stories and Lessons Learned

For young lawyers and students contemplating a career in international arbitration, understanding what it takes to be successful in the field can seem hidden and mysterious. Here is a book that, in a thoroughly engaging way, unlocks the black box and democratizes access to advice and information via short personal chapters by leading practitioners. Each chapter appears in both English and Spanish. Over forty of the most renowned names in arbitration worldwide offer reflections on life as an arbitration practitioner, highlighting such career opportunities and potential stumbling blocks as the following: balancing work and life; managing coexistence challenges in firms (e.g., the rat race, bullying, burnout, discrimination); preparing for a job interview; promoting disruptive innovation; arbitrating for the State; participating in deliberations; writing arbitral awards; handling dissenting opinions; and developing a personal brand The authors’ exploration of everything from academic work and practical experiences to how they have managed personal pressures will be greatly appreciated by all who seek to thrive in the arbitration market, whether in practice or academia. As an extraordinary compilation about what happens behind the scenes in the international arbitration world, this book will quickly become an essential consultation resource illuminating what it takes to succeed in the field and how best to achieve a meaningful and rewarding career. Its personal success stories reveal what practice in this area of law actually looks like and brilliantly demonstrate ways to foster career development.