Courtroom ethnography in the context of terrorism: a multi-level approach

Abstract

This paper addresses terrorism trials as sites of research and proposes an approach for the analysis of ethnographic data collected during these trials. The suggested approach offers multi-level analytical access, it centres around interactionist conceptions and knowledge discourses. The conceptual framework we suggest is spelled out in terms of how to observe and being sensitive of (re-)production of power structures inside the courtroom as well as in regard to relations imported into the courtroom. For this purpose, we integrate the micro-level of courtroom interactions (i) and (self-)presentation, (ii) the meso-level of knowledge discourses (iii) and the macro-level of social structure, informing legal and security policy. By applying a multi-level approach, we open up new explanatory avenues to understand the constitution of terrorism as a socio-legal object. The methodical framework connects hitherto unconnected elements, i.e. (i) participants’ interactions and negotiation, (ii) their (self-)representations, ascriptions and narrative performances, and (iii) knowledge (re-)production in order to establish or maintain political and social orders.