Methodological Subversions in the Absence of Archives

This paper provides a methodological contribution around how the history of a sector can be researched when the records of the past have either not been maintained or erased. Set against the backdrop of Vietnam’s colonial history and experiences of political turmoil, we had to overcome this challenge creatively, understanding what made sense for that context, what could be asked, and how to collect data when it was not possible due to (auto)censorship or absence of archives. We developed two alternative methods of inquiry: mobilising objects to discuss stories that otherwise would be censored, which we refer to as an object-oriented method, and an art-based method, based on critical fabulations. We explain the challenges of using traditional business history methods in this context, present the process of developing these two novel methods through empirical accounts, and finally discuss the ethical implications and limitations researchers might face in their application.