A reflexive critique of a critical hermeneutics analysis of Wu Zetian
Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management
ISSN: 1746-5648
Article publication date: 17 July 2018
Issue publication date: 21 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Revisiting the critical hermeneutics analysis of Wu Zetian’s case in Peng et al.’s (2015) paper, the purpose of this paper is to explore the complexity and paradox of Wu Zetian as a historical figure, and to demonstrate the potential of critical hermeneutics as an innovative methodology to study gender, diversity and history. Moreover, the authors attempt to examine some of the potential challenges and limitations of this methodology and to provide an in-depth account of the socio-politics involved in the research process.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a reflexive critique based on a framework of four central concepts of critical hermeneutics (Prasad, 2005): questions of author intentionality, layers of texts, hermeneutic circle and relating to texts.
Findings
Critical hermeneutics has great potential as well as considerable challenges and limitations in the research areas of gender, diversity and history.
Originality/value
This paper offers a lucid exposition of what critical hermeneutics is about, how it might be applied to a particular case and potential challenges and limitations of this methodology. The study is intensely reflexive and context oriented, illustrating how a deepened understanding of critical hermeneutics leads to a more informed discussion of the possibilities and limitations of the methodology, and how researchers, editors and reviewers can be influenced by the context in which the study is conducted.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful for the enthusiastic and valuable comments from three anonymous reviewers. The authors also highly appreciate the exceptionally constructive comments from Dr Bill Cooke and other participants in the 46th Atlantic Schools of Business Conference in Halifax.
Citation
Yu, T., Mills, A.J. and Peng, N. (2018), "A reflexive critique of a critical hermeneutics analysis of Wu Zetian", Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 250-260. https://doi.org/10.1108/QROM-10-2016-1454
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited