Introduction: Participatory Research and Ethics in Mesoamerican Fieldwork

This introduction explores particular ways in which participatory research is practiced in Mesoamerica by ethnographers. It provides an introduction to the history of participatory research and its interlinkages to a host of ethical concerns that are explored in greater depth in eight, reflexive ethnographic essays by anthropologists who conduct research in Guatemala and Mexico. This introduction and the ten essays in this issue, including two commentaries, present several, sometimes conflicting, discussions about the complicated processes of conducting ethnographic research in Mesoamerica and, in particular, what participatory research means in this linguistically and culturally diverse region of the world. In this introduction, key aspects of the history of participatory research are reviewed, as well as ethical issues related to consent and confidentiality in specific field sites that may conflict with the requirements of funding and academic institutions. This collection of essays aims to capture a panorama of ethnographic experiences in Mesoamerican field sites to highlight the collaborations, as well as the ethical and pragmatic dilemmas encountered in participatory research.