A new paper examines the role of applied anthropology in combating fear-driven policies.

Writing in the open access journal, Human Organisation, Professor Jennifer R. Wies, President of the Society for Applied Anthropology at the American Anthropological Association, argues that applied anthropologists must rise to new challenges posed by fear-mongering in social policy. ‘Applied anthropology must recognise fear’s dual nature: as a tool of domination and a catalyst for resistance.’

Prof Wies shows that fear has been a central concern within anthropology since its foundation. British anthropologists who studied colonised societies ‘were not merely acts of intellectual curiosity, but were also often attempts to control, categorise, and subdue those who threatened the security of the empire.’ Other paternalistic studies on ‘saving’ cultures were also exercises in colonial anxiety and domination.

Prof Wies says that the current fears about the Trump administration’s evolving policies need critical evaluation. This includes cuts to the International Development (USAID) and adverse changes to information on the Centers for Disease Control websites.

Prof Wies argues that applied anthropology has three obligations for reimagining the world:

• Practice holism: ‘Our work does not stop at identifying immediate disruptions; we trace the interwoven impacts across communities, institutions, and global systems’
• Engage publics: examples of public scholarship can make the defunding of research more relevant to broader audiences. E.g. Exhibitions, visual social science (photos, posters), and digital platforms. ‘[A] visual representation of the lives impacted by food insecurity, a public forum detailing the consequences of eliminating reproductive health programs, or a community-driven exhibit showcasing the history of DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] interventions forces accountability’
• Relentlessly advocate: engage critically with our fear of speaking out on tough topics. ‘Are we failing to engage with the public because of the risks associated with making our work visible?’

‘Applied anthropology must serve the publics of the world beyond this moment filled with fear. We must remain engaged, actively reimagining the future. In that, we find power.’

– Professor Jennifer R. Wies