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Paper short abstract

This talk will be on the method of the anthropological research on health. It will describe the interrogation that participative observation raises towards a field in which economical and legality/illegality issues are strong. It will lead to the question of the interest of this old research method on the contemporary topics of modern anthropology.

Paper long abstract

Through this talk, I will present the fussy field of research that was the wholesale center of informal drugs in Cotonou, located in the big international market of Dantokpa. After a brief presentation of the informal market of drugs in Benin and its issue for the sellers towards which I was investigated and for those who struggle against it, I will explain how I negotiated my entrance and stay in this specific research field. Then, I will describe tow steps of this participative observation: the time of the "euphoric empathy" and this of the "generalised mistrust". Afterwards, I will try to analyse this field from reflexions around the research method of the participative observation: question of length, of the lack of background of the anthropologist learner, of the frenzy to ask always more question -even disturbing ones- to be sure of the research results, of the required empathy and the lack of reciprocity of the interest… I will finish this presentation relating the "final crisis" which leads to the "exit" from the field and I will conclude by telling that this study, to my point of view, is scientifically a good one but that it brings affective consequences for the researcher learner.