Quand le terrain s’invite à domicile

Abstract

The article starts with a comparison of two experiences of observation of a United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC)’s session: while the first investigation takes place in situ, the second takes place remotely. The comparison of these two fieldworks allows for a reflexive perspective and questions the effects of the virtualization of the HRC’s session on my position as an investigator, on the research project, and on the data collected. After a contextualization of the field study as initially defined and of the first in situ observation, the article questions the situation of the co-distance field research and draws up a first assessment of it with regard to the research project.

Keywords

• virtual ethnography
• digital observation
• multilateralism
• digital diplomacy
• international organizations