Fieldwork in the Corridors of Money and Power: A Reflexive Account of Researching Grand Corruption in the Global South

This article offers a reflexive account of fieldwork on grand corruption in Peru and Brazil, focusing on the Lava Jato case, drawing on in-depth interviews. It examines how intersecting identities, such as gender, nationality, class and institutional affiliation, shape access, trust and risk in politically charged research settings. The author analyses her fluid ‘insider–outsider’ positionality, showing how citizenship and academic affiliation were read differently across national contexts. Particular attention is given to gendered vulnerabilities, including harassment, credibility asymmetries and differential access, alongside the emotional and safety risks inherent in studying high-stakes phenomena. The article also addresses institutional blind spots, especially the uneven ethical and safety frameworks across academic systems and argues for reforms that better support minoritised and Global South scholars. It concludes by calling for reflexive, context-sensitive and institutionally supported approaches to fieldwork on contentious domains.