Cross-Disciplinary Methods in Peace Studies Research: Agency, Uncertainty and Emancipation.

This article focuses on the development and application of a cross-disciplinary, multi-method research approach for peace studies in Sri Lanka, emphasizing intersectionality and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the experiences of marginalized communities. Drawing on interviews with 22 participants—primarily from civil society and including members of the LGBTIQ community and other minority groups—the study addresses how structural barriers related to social and political power differentials shape marginalization and agency. The methods were designed to align with democratic and rights-based values, mitigate harm, and manage researcher-participant positionality and bias within a conflicted socio-political context. The research highlights the challenges and possibilities of conducting ethically grounded, participatory peace research in constrained environments, demonstrating how such methodologies can illuminate nuanced understandings of marginalization and support emancipatory outcomes.