Forum: Rethinking ethics review for international relations research

Journal article

In this forum, scholars contribute to a critical reevaluation of ethics review processes arguing that the existing frameworks are inadequate for the dynamic and politically charged environments in which international relations as a discipline operates. We observe the institutionalized nature of ethics reviews and their inadequacy to address the methodological and epistemological approaches typical of IR. Drawing on experiences from diverse contexts and bringing together expertise from diverse institutions, the forum’s objective is to raise awareness of the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach of current ethics review protocols. Such approaches overlook the power dynamics and the contextual sensitivities in which IR scholarship operates and instead of addressing these, they risk amplifying their negative consequences. Although there is no easy fix for this, we hope to inspire readers and stimulate critical engagement by reporting on alternative practices that prioritize reflexivity, inclusion, context-specific adjustments, and continuous ethical dialogue among all stakeholders involved. We call for an ethics that is not only procedurally compliant but is also substantively consistent with the nuances of IR research landscapes.

Authors: Dionigi, F; Howlett, MLA; Tapscott, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Journal: International Studies Perspectives
• Article number: ekaf004
• Publication date: 2025-05-19
• Acceptance date: 2025-04-11
• DOI: 10.1093/isp/ekaf004
• EISSN: 1528-3577
• ISSN: 1528-3585
• Language: English
• Keywords: research ethics; international relations; fieldwork; ethics review; IRB; FFR