When the Police Are at the Door and Want the Interview Data: Situating the Ethics and Law of Qualitative Radicalization Research

Abstract

In this article we address the challenges of using qualitative methods in the context of radicalization research in light of a recent seizure of research data. We trace the lines of development and the securitization of the research field. While researchers often find themselves torn between basic research and application, the tendency toward securitization is evident in the subfield of (de)radicalization research, as if under a magnifying glass; thus confronting researchers with special tasks, e.g., the lack of the right to refuse to testify. We address specific ethical and legal aspects and offer a guide to legal questions that researchers should work through before going into the field.