Researching the Politics of Illegal Activities

ABSTRACT Although an object of increasing interest, researching illegal activities generates a range methodological challenges for political scientists. Rather than exhaustive discussion, this article provides simple framework that structures these challenges. It highlights illegality is insufficient guide to method development and needs be supplemented by analysis three dimensions in addition legality: enforcement, normalization, ethics. The explains beyond providing insight into the feasibility different methodologies, examining also directly points researchers key science questions about activities.