SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Ethnographic approaches are beginning to percolate through political science, but are often taken up as a ‘method’, rather than an approach to methodology and theory. I describe my experience of doing ethnography in the Houses of Lords and Commons. Through the themes of whipping and gender, I explain how theory and method were interwoven and how reflexivity improves rigour. Dealing with the methodological challenge of disjunctions and contradictions is explored through the case studies of constituency work, law-making and ceremonies. Finally, I remark on how ethnographic approaches to ethics entail attention to process and relationships rather than compliance with rules.