The role of politics in the research of marginalized groups: A critical analysis of two studies on the position of Serbs in Croatia

U radu se bavimo analizom povezanosti između politike i istraživačkog procesa u oblasti izučavanja marginalizovanih grupa. Ovom pitanju smo pristupili iz vizure jedne, u domaćem setingu skorije utemeljene naučne discipline Sociologije marginalizovanih grupa, pred kojom stoje brojni metodološki izazovi, proizašli i iz njenog predmeta proučavanja. To su visoko vulnerabilne grupe i pojedinci, čije izučavanje zahtjeva prilagođene istraživačke tehnike, i isti takav pristup. Budući marginalizovani, ljudi koji pripadaju ovoj populaciji po pravilu nemaju glas. Zbog toga istraživač ima dodatnu odgovornost da u refleksivnom, i samorefleksivnom maniru razmotri metodološke i etičke zamke u koje može upasti tokom istraživačkog procesa. Posebno, mora se voditi računa o tome da li, i na koji način politički diskurs utiče na istraživački dizajn, prikupljanje, analizu i interpretaciju rezultata, s obzirom na to da su marginalizovane grupe čest predmet različitih zloupotreba. Da bismo ukazali na fakt da političko ima važan uticaj na naučna istraživanja, kao i da može imati dugoročne posljedice po istraživanu populaciju, pristupili smo kritičkoj analizi dviju studija autora Milana Mesića i Dragana Bagića, koje se bave Srbima povratnicima na Prostor od posebne državne skrbi (brige) u Hrvatskoj. Kritička analiza je potvrdila da je faktor političko nesumnjivo uticao na način interpretacije rezultata, promociju određenih ideja i vrijednosti (bliskih političkom diskusu), i konačno, da ide na štetu istraživane grupe. Sumirano, možemo zaključiti da kontaminacija naučnih studija političkim, pogotovo onih primjenjenog tipa, ide nauštrb kako istraživača tako i populacije koja je u fokusu istraživanja. The paper deals with the analysis of the connection between politics and the research process in the field of marginalized groups. We approached this question from the perspective of a recently established scientific discipline, the Sociology of Marginalized Groups, which faces numerous methodological challenges, arising from its subject of study. These are highly vulnerable groups and individuals whose study requires tailored research techniques and the same type of approach. Being marginalized, as a rule, people who belong to this population do not have a voice. Therefore, the researcher has the additional responsibility to consider the methodological and ethical pitfalls that he/she may encounter during the research process in the reflexive and self-reflective manner. In particular, consideration must be given to whether, and in what way, political discourse influences the research design, collection, analysis and interpretation of results, since marginalized groups are oft en the subject of various abuses. To highlight the fact that politics has an important impact on scientific research, as well as having long-term consequences for the population studied, we have critically analyzed two studies by authors Milan Mesić and Dragan Bagić, which address Serb returnees in the Area of Special State Concern (care) in Croatia. Critical analysis confirmed that the political factor undoubtedly influenced the way in which the results were interpreted, the promotion of certain ideas and values (close to political discourse), and finally, to the detriment of the research group. In summary, we can conclude that the contamination of scientific studies with politics, especially those of the applied type, is to the detriment of both researchers and the population that is the focus of research.