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Sunday, October 07, 2007

Anthropologists: Slaves of the State or disciples of the discipline?

This article raises many troubling questions. How can Anthropologists avoid being duplicitous in the war making of the empire?

Army Enlists Anthropology in War Zones

An Afghan boy at a medical clinic set up by American Army medics and an anthropologist in the Shabak Valley in Afghanistan.

By DAVID ROHDE
Published: New York Times, October 5, 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/world/asia/05afghan.html?bl&ex=1191902400&en=3a7c6f8648b23327&ei=5087%0A

The Sydney Morning Herald's headline: "America's new weapons are anthropologists"

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/americas-new-weapons-are-anthropologists/2007/10/07/1191695739604.html

8 comments:

  1. Truthfully, I'm not entirely convinced that there is any danger here at all. In fact, I think the proponents of this program should be applauded for this humanistic approach. The goal of the anthropologists is very much parallel to and in line with the goal of the military personell there. Reduce the bloodshed, and restore stability to the country. The fact of the matter is, the soldiers will be there until they are removed by the nation, so anything that gives them a greater understanding of the region, and an ability to reduce the conflict without a use of force, is a step in the right direction. And the anthropoligist strategy may, in fact, rub off on the commanders and soldiers in the region. It's very similar to a discussion I had here at school that can be summed up like so. "What would you rather, a soldier educated by Jesuits, taught to think freely and to consider the whole situation, and or a soldier who isn't?"

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  2. Rick

    Thanks for stirring the pot on this one.

    I saw the photo in a print copy of the NYT. Recently I tried to steal a photo from their website without success. How did you do it?

    George

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