Research Seminar – Anna Kim

William Dawson Scholar and Associate Professor in Management for Sustainability at the Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University

Abstract:  Toward Respectful Theorizing: Methodological Principles and Strategies to Generate Diverse Theories from Fieldwork in the Global South

Organization and management research increasingly aims to build theories based on fieldwork in the Global South. Nevertheless, existing methodological approaches risk producing accounts that do not reflect local realities, as well as causing epistemic injustice and potential harm to the communities studied. Specifically, researchers risk three forms of disrespect: uncritically generalizing Global North theories and experiences across the world (universalization), positioning certain perspectives and phenomena as of higher value than others (cultural superiority), and portraying Global South experiences as unusual and fascinating while divorcing them from broader social and historical contexts (exoticism).

To counter these tendencies, we propose three principles for more respectful theorizing: recognizing plurality across contexts while identifying the specificities embedded within universalized frameworks (particularizing); challenging cultural superiority by valuing local experiences and epistemologies (symmetrizing); and resisting exoticism by foregrounding heterogeneity within a setting and situating it in sociohistorical conditions (contextualizing). Building on these principles, we propose concrete methodological strategies to guide the theory-building process, from experiencing (beyond data collection) and sensemaking (beyond data analysis) to sharing (beyond writing), to mitigate the risk of epistemic injustice and foster diverse and pluralistic theories that are more grounded in local realities.