Oppose participation in counter-insurgency! Network of Concerned Anthropologists launched

by on Sep 19, 2007 in politics, applied anthropology, University / Academia, ethics

(via Savage Minds) As a response to the growing militarisation of anthropology, a group of anthropologists (incl. David Price, Gustaaf Houtman and Kanhong Lin) has lauched the Network of Concerned Anthropologists: They encourage the development of an ethical anthropology and to oppose anthropologists’ participation in counter-insurgency.

In an email they ask us to sign a petition and spread the word.

The Department of Defense and allied agencies are mobilizing anthropologists for interventions in the Middle East and beyond. It is likely that larger, more permanent initiatives are in the works.

Over the last several weeks, we have created an ad hoc group, the Network of Concerned Anthropologists, with the objective of promoting an ethical anthropology. Working together, we have drafted a pledge of non-participation in counter-insurgency, which we have organized as a petition (see attachment). We invite you to become a part of this effort by taking the following steps:

1. Download and print the attached pledge (in .pdf format). Ask your colleagues to sign the pledge, and promptly send it to us via regular mail. Our address is Network of Concerned Anthropologists, c/o Dept. of Anthropology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 3G5, Fairfax, VA 22030 (USA). If it is more convenient, email a .pdf copy of collected signatures and send it to us at concerned.anthropologists (AT) gmail.com.

2. Forward this message to your colleagues, and encourage them to sign.

3. Join our network by emailing us at concerned.anthropologists (AT) gmail.com. Be sure to include your name, title, and affiliation. We will add you to our email list.

4. Visit our web site at http://concerned.anthropologists.googlepages.com/home for more information and updates.