Experiencing the present and the future in the interview situation during war: Methodological and ethical implications

The article offers a methodological contribution to the development of longitudinal qualitative research in the context of ongoing war. It examines the situation of interaction during an in-depth interview from the perspective of the different modes of chronological time that unfold in it: memories of the past, attitudes to the present, and images of the future. The author emphasizes the dual validating role of a conversation recorded for archiving purposes: it is an opportunity for reflection in the present (situation of “between-time” as philosopher Byung-Chul Han defines it), and, through its preservation in the archive, it enables empowerment of people and communities in the future (especially through community archives as Michelle Caswell argues). The author focuses on the fact that the source of complex emotions during an interview is not only the memories of loss or powerlessness in the past, but also the violence unfolding in the present and anxiety about the future: personal and collective. The very radical openness of the future in the conditions of full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine is a factor of tension and the risk of potential misuse of recordings when disclosing certain information might cause harm to specific people. That is why interviewers’ attention should be directed to these different temporalities, and the creation of interview archives should take into account different scenarios of the future, leaving the tools of control to the witness (such as withdrawing consent or review of the conditions for preservation and access). Leaving the space for reflection on the future of archived interviews beyond signing informed consent proves to be a very productive practice that helps create a more participatory academic culture. Through elaborated communication between interviewers and interviewees, it is possible to build not only interpersonal trust but also trust in institutions that preserve and curate collected materials. Ultimately, the key attention should be paid to the community that creates the archive, and that forms around it.

Keywords: archive, documentation, future, interview, temporality, war

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Received 09.04.2026

Accepted for publication after review 22.04.2026