Dancing among authorities Reflections on field research in China

The article explores how multiple forms of authority amplify existing limitations and impose new ones on field research in the Chinese context, as well as the potential opportunities that can be seen within this framework. Drawing inspiration from the studies of J. Clifford, the article reflects on the current state of field research, which involves navigating within polyphonic assemblages that redefine the roles and status of participant observation and ethnographic writing. Reviewing existing literature on conducting field research in China, the article analyses various aspects, including access, collaboration, state ideological discourse, and different forms of surveillance and control. These aspects not only impact the entire field research process, but also constitute an integral part of it, necessitating continuous reflection on the part of the researcher and adjustments to the research and its methodology as it progresses. Based on a research case, the article illustrates the dynamics of power relations in field research, exploring the potential of «dancing» among and through authorities and the unfolding polyphony of the field. The conclusion emphasizes the need for an approach to research that embraces uncertainty and does not presuppose guaranteed outcomes.