Anthropologists and War

Armed with their knowledge of culture, anthropologist are now assisting the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

"The U.S. military is now sending teams of anthropologists and social scientists out to assist all combat brigades in Iraq and Afghanistan. The effort has reportedly helped troops improve relations with local populations and avert casualties, while raising a hearty debate among anthropologists over the ethical boundaries of their profession. A look at the so-called Human Terrain Teams and larger questions of how the military is adapting to new expectations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond" (The Dianne Reams Show notes).

Listen to the audio of this segment of The Diane Reams Show on the NPR site.

Learn more about David Price's forthcoming book Anthropological Intelligence: The Deployment and Neglect of American Anthropology in the Second World War.

Watch video (from The New York Times) about Human Terrain Teams. 

Read more about the Human Terrain System in an article from the U.S. Army site. 

See also the "Knowing Your Enemy" article in The New Yorker.

And check out some relevant posts on my favorite anthropology blog -- Savage Minds. 

What are your thoughts on the role being played by some current anthropologists in war?  Were you aware that noted anthropologists like Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead also did something similar? I have some coverage of Benedict and Mead's role in WWII in a book I'm working on, but in the meantime you might want to check out Price's book. 

See also my previous post on this topic:

• Study of Culture Increasingly Important to U.S. Military
• U.S. Department of Defense Announces the ROTC Language and Culture Project