Paper short abstract:

Ethnographic fieldwork in Zanzibar underlines the relationship between methodology and theory on global anthropology. This paper invites anthropologists to a dialogue on how to perceive and develop our methodology to contribute to global theories.

Paper long abstract:

The methodological value of ethnography can be challenged in a digital age. Based on examples from fieldwork in Zanzibar, this paper explores the theoretical contributions to global perceptions in a digital era, and its relation to ethnography. During extensive ethnographic fieldwork, women in Zanzibar expressed strong opinions on globalization and how moral values within the society are challenged. They stress that the digital exchange of images and ideas does corrupt the moral behavior of their youth. At the same time, these women, their husbands, and their children reach out to digital means to deepen their religious knowledge. This knowledge is strongly related to their moral values. The contradictions in their relationship with digital worlds on an emotional level and in terms of knowledge was specifically a result of ethnography. I argue we should look with a critical lens at the possible colonialist character of our research methods, yet we should understand their added value in creating a theoretical global understanding of the digital age. We should investigate how to extend the participation of research communities within our methodology, and aspire a more inclusive way of creating theories and methodologies.