For this assignment I carried out two interviews of people ostensibly having different viewpoints on the issue of how social change and development can be implemented. My purpose was to identify and contrast those differences in approach towards the same issue. I thus decided to see how two individuals of different backgrounds, interests and experiences would respond to relatively similar sets of questions, each pertinent to their individual activities and pursuits.
The questions used in both interviews were related to how the interviewees felt and understood social change and development in the context of (digital) activism and in connection to the developments in Palestine.
1st interviewee’s background information
The first interviewee desired to remain anonymous, so I will just refer to them as J, and only mention some details about them. They are a Greek teacher of Palestinian origins based in Athens. They are active individuals, who are very interested in social movements, civil society activities, and politics and try to bring about change through their involvement with them and offering to the common good. Also, because of their Palestinian origins and the strong connection they maintain to the area because of relatives and ancestry, they are closely informed about the developments in Palestine, and they keep an active stance regarding the violations of people’s rights and the destruction of their lives.
First approach
I first contacted the first interviewee via social media, having been informed about them from a common acquaintance, and then through a subsequent phone call. In our phone call I let them know that our interview would be in the context of the master’s I am currently studying in, and I provided them with the choice of anonymity or not, as well as the choice of me recording the interview or not. They opted to stay anonymous, and didn’t agree to being recorded, and I of course respected that, bearing in mind that they would have their own reasons for that choice. We then arranged a meeting via zoom, as the long distance between us dictated the use of a video call for the interview to take place.
Questions asked
My questions for J. intended to realize how they understand activism, which they are familiar with as they take part in social movements and are the following:
1) How do you think that activism can bring about social change and development?
2) Do you believe that digital activism can supplement or even replace physical activism in terms of effectiveness and how?
3) What do you think is the role of activism physical or digital, in the case of Israel and Palestine conflict in terms of raising awareness and exerting pressure to countries in order to be more active in supporting Palestine?
Evaluation and reflections on our interview.
My interview with J. had a very natural flow and was a very interesting discussion, because the topic of my questions was very convenient for them to answer as they have quite experience in the field and had a lot to say about them. Also, the rapport between us was very good, and the conversation had a friendly tone, as there was understanding from both parts which I believe was reinforced by the fact that I gave them the choice on the matters of privacy, and thus earned their trust.
In terms of issues encountered, the main one was that J. was my second choice of interviewee, as the initial one was ill, and they were not able to be there for the interview as we had planned at the beginning, so I had to find another person for the interview. Also, setting the time and day was a bit tricky because of our hectic schedules.
2nd interviewee’s background information
My second interviewee is Dr Anastasia P. who is a language teacher in secondary education. I specifically chose her for the interview because she is an expert in educational policies, and she does research on intercultural education and hate speech. Her experience as a research associate at UNESCO chair for intercultural policies, intrigued me as to the answers she would give to my questions. Also, her background and activity are quite different to that of my first interviewee, so I was interested in the discrepancies between their perspectives.
First approach
My contact with Dr Anastasia P. was straightforward because we work at the same workplace, and we have cooperated in some projects in the past. I explained to her that the interview was intended for my master’s degree, and she willingly accepted my invitation, even though she has a series of projects of her own running and very little time. She was eager for her name to appear in the interview, as well as for it to be recorded, I believe mainly because she has done the same herself in the past, from the position of an interviewer, and she trusted my intentions.
Questions asked
My questions to her were once more appropriate to her expertise, and were the following:
1) How can the work of organisations such as Unesco bring about social change and development?
2) Do you believe that the role of such organisations is actually fulfilled by making a positive impact and if so, how?
3) Do you think that the digital medium can have an important part in enhancing the role of Unesco or similar organizations and why?
4) How does Unesco interfere in cases of violations against human rights, monuments and cultural heritage such as those taking place in the war in the Middle East at the moment?
Evaluation and reflections on our interview.
Our interview with Dr Anastasia took place after work in a café near our workplace. The communication between the two of us was very good, as we were acquainted with one another. Still, she was a very interesting speaker who expressed a lot of passion for the topic in her answers, something that reflects on her research work. She was more than eager to express her views on the questions asked, and our conversation was very vivid, which I believe was reinforced by the fact that it was a one-on-one conversation.
Conclusion
For me it was the first time interviewing another person, a process I found very interesting and insightful. I was slightly reserved and self- conscious at the beginning, especially in terms of contacting my interview subjects to ask them to participate, by after some point, I got the hang of it and the whole process was easier than I primarily thought. That said, I believe that I would gladly take more interviews in the future whatever the context of them might be.
I personally enjoyed the face-to-face interview more, because this type suits me better and I feel it is more intimate, nevertheless both of my interviewees had the positive energy needed to make their interviews pleasant and productive. The taste that I got from them was that despite their approaches in terms of the means used to bring about social change being different, their intended ends coincided, which I accepted as a well-received outcome.
