APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY

Chapter One Orientations to an Anthropology of Policy and

Practice

What is Applied Anthropology?

Applied Anthropology is the use of anthropological theory and social science research methods to solve real world problems. Almost always works outside

of academia Clients expect practical

solutions not theories Influences the selection of

policy or delivery of services Ethical Issues and Normative

Assumptions Often conducted by full-time

non-academics or professors consulting outside of the institution

Practicing Anthropology

Anthropologist who are engaged in fulltime outside of academia who use their skills to practical problems

They are different then Applied Anthropologists in that they often design, implement, and deliver services or policies—They Do The Work! Needs Assessments Program Evaluation Social Impact Assessment

Types of Jobs Practicing Anthropologist Have

International Development Community Development Advocacy Groups Resource Management Planning Consulting Around half of all Ph.D. anthropologists

will be practicing anthropologists Almost all Bachelors and Masters level

students are practicing anthropologists

Applied Anthropology and Theory

The link of theory and practice in anthropology is different than other disciplines

Theories often make normative assumptions or produce information that can be exploited by outsiders over locals

The history of anthropology has lead to a distinct separation of academic theory from practice

Theories in Anthropology

Structural Functionalism Functionalism

understands society and culture to be like living organisms

Parts of a culture can only be studied adequately as they function within the whole

Structuralism Structuralist approaches in anthropology

explore the variety of ways that culture and society are structured, and how such structures are related to human development and identity

Theories in Anthropology

Cultural Evolution presumes that over time, cultural change

occurs as a result of humans adapting to things like climate change or population growth

Materialism Understands human culture to be the

product of the "material conditions" in which a given community of people finds itself.

Theories in Anthropology Political Economy

The study of the means of production, law, customs and the government that support livelihood strategies

Interpretive Anthropology Culture is used to understand the deep

structures and basic assumption that create a shared reality of a place

Human Ecology How humans relate to their environment and

settle space

Applied Anthropology

Has grown separately as a discipline that focuses on answering important questions and solving important issues

Not concerned with relationship to theory Focus on problem solving not conforming

to the production of knowledge to test theories

Clients often have little interest in abstractions such as theory

Anthropology of Policy

Theory that policy has a unique culture The powerful and their perspectives Issues and communities and individuals Distribution of goods and services All pretty much left unexamined

A Praxis Approach

Methodology that is ethical and emancipatory

How to empower people to make planned change