Manipulating Africa? Perspectives on the Experimental Method in the Study of African Politics

A push for evidence-based approaches to the study of politics, dubbed the 'credibility revolution', has resulted in a proliferation of experiments and randomized control trials (RCTs) in Africa. The current emphasis on the strength of the experimental method has vast ramifications for our understanding of political phenomena and real-world realities faced by local populations. Yet, very little work focuses on the practical challenges that may arise if and when researchers and students decide to use this method. Drawing from a variety of research experiences across the continent, this research note documents the implementation challenges that are often faced but rarely discussed, particularly regarding maintaining control of the treatments in experiments. To overcome these challenges, the research note makes suggestions on how best to engage local populations to improve experiments. Instead of treating Africa like a laboratory, this approach humanizes the subjects whose real-world political experiences will continue, even after the intervention is finished and the researcher returns home. In collaborating with local populations, we can strive to conductmore ethical projects that include the participants in the conception, design, and dissemination processes, strengthening not only our contribution to the discipline but to politics in Africa in general.