La Strada Documentation Center

Methodological Problems in the Study of Child Soldiers

Document number
2151
Date
2007
Title
Methodological Problems in the Study of Child Soldiers
Author/publisher
Barry Ames
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Violence, Human rights violation, Crime against humanity, War crime, Armed conflict, Post-conflict situation, Terrorism,
Summary
A powerful moral dimension characterizes research on the problem of child soldiers. Given the importance of the moral issues, how critical is methodology and scientific neutrality? Child soldiers may be the most depressing topic in the field of international conflict, and the elimination of child soldiering is a completely laudable goal. But the methodological principles promoting good scholarship are still crucial. A more precise understanding of why children join violent conflicts, why irregular armies recruit and abduct children, why children leave irregular armies, and what problems they face after leaving will help us craft policies to reduce child soldiering.
Related documents