This book examines the methodology of qualitative research in military studies.

Helena Carreiras is professor at ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon and senior researcher at CIES-IUL. She was deputy director of the Portuguese National Defence Institute between 2010 and 2012, and holds a PhD in Social & Political Sciences from the European University Institute. She is the author of Gender and the Military (Routledge, 2006).

Celso Castro is professor and current director of CPDOC (The School of Social Sciences and History) at Getulio Vargas Foundation (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). He has a PhD in Social Anthropology and is the author of several books on the military.

Introduction, Celso Castro & Helena Carreiras 1. Anthropological Methods and the Study of the Military: the Brazilian Experience, Celso Castro 2. Insider Anthropology: Theoretical and Empirical Issues for the Researcher, Charles Kirke 3. Studying Cross-Cultural Competence in the Military. Methodological Considerations of Applied Contract Research for the German Armed Forces, Phil C. Langer & Carsten Pietsch 4. Evolving Experiences. Auto-Ethnography and Military Sociology: A South African Immersion, Ian Liebenberg 5. Side effects of the Chain of Command on Anthropological Research: the Brazilian Army, Piero C. Leirner 6. Negotiating Access to an Argentinean Military Institution in Democratic Times: Difficulties and Challenges, Alejandra Navarro 7. Research Relations in Military Settings: How does Gender Matter?, Helena Carreiras & Ana Alexandre 8. Inside the Military Organization: Experience of Researching the Slovenian Armed Forces, Janja Vuga & Jelena Juvan 9. Studying the Military in a Comparative Perspective: Methodological Challenges and Issues. The example of French and German Officers in European Defense and Security Policy, Delphine Deschaux-Beaume 10. Interviewing a Group: a Social Dramatic Art. Few Remarks on Dynamics and Stakes of Military Groups, Said Haddad 11. Research on Latin America's Soldiers: Generals, Sergeants, and Guerrilla Comandantes, Dirk Kruijt Conclusion, Celso Castro & Helena Carreiras