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Abstract: The paper emphasises the importance of ethical sensitivity, methodological adaptability, and reflexivity when studying dark events and deviant behaviour within socially complex settings. Focusing on dark events – organised controversial gatherings centered on past death and suffering – this paper addresses a growing yet under-researched area at the intersection of dark tourism, dark leisure, and collective memory studies. The characteristic deviant behaviours of organisers, performers, and/or attendees, combined with tense (post-)conflict social circumstances, complicate data gathering and elevate risks for both participants and researchers. Under such conditions, rigid randomised sampling is often unfeasible; instead, alternative strategies are necessary, requiring responsible and transparent implementation. In addition to field surveys, valuable – albeit often biased – data on deviance and dark events can be found online for (post-)conflict studies. These sources must be examined and interpreted critically, especially with regard to the limitations in knowledge creation processes.
Keywords: dark event, dark tourism, (post-)conflict setting, data gathering, methodology
Published in RUP: 01.09.2026; Views: 483; Downloads: 17
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