Review

Why is it that so many people decide to do research about their own country?

When I wrote my thesis on Northern Ireland last year, I discovered that most of the literature on the subject is written by Irish people. The same turns out to be true for South Africa. I find this very admirable. Im not even from a country that is in war and/or strongly divided, although slightly disturbed, but still I find it very difficult to give a balanced view on the Dutch situation. Of course I know that there might be more than one Muslim fanatic in the country, and I do know that Theo van Gogh was far from campaigning to throw all Muslims out. But when I read an article about "dark forces", that is not clear in what this is but suggests that it has to do with the Muslims, I don't even feel like trying to be balanced at all. Where do I come in this story?

Actually, the best books on Dutch history are not written by people from the Netherlands. And the best book on the current political situation is written by a Dutch journalist that has been living in the USA for the past 30 years. So it is a Dutch thing than? Are we not capable of distancing ourselves from the subject? Or are we just not interested at all?
How do you do research on a subject that includes yourself?