Question

Why do many anthropologists object to using anthropologists in military operations including Human Terrain Teams in Afghanistan (as reported by David Rhode)

A) Anthropologists believe that military involvement compromises the neutrality and objectivity of their research, potentially leading to biased or unreliable findings.

B) Anthropologists are concerned that working with the military may harm the safety and trust of the local communities they study, as they could be perceived as aiding an occupying force.

C) Anthropologists feel that collaborating with the military can undermine the academic and ethical principles of anthropology, which prioritize the well-being and autonomy of the studied populations.

D) All of the above.

Answer 1

Anthropologists object to military involvement due to concerns over research neutrality, local community trust and safety, and adherence to academic and ethical principles that prioritize the communities' welfare. Historical critiques of anthropology further underscore these objections by highlighting past ethical failings and exploitation linked to military and colonialist endeavors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Many anthropologists object to using anthropologists in military operations, including Human Terrain Teams in Afghanistan, for a variety of reasons. Neutrality and objectivity are central to anthropological research, and military involvement can compromise these principles, potentially leading to biased findings. Moreover, collaboration with the military might endanger the trust and safety of local communities, as anthropologists could be perceived as agents of an occupying force. This perception directly conflicts with the ethical obligation to prioritize the well-being and autonomy of the communities under study. Additionally, the military's use of anthropology can be seen as undermining core academic and ethical principles, as historical instances have shown where anthropologists contributed to colonial legacy, engaged in unethical practices, and introduced bias into their work.

Historic critiques of anthropology illustrate the problematic relationship between the discipline and military or colonial interests. It's been shown that anthropologists have sometimes acted exploitative towards their subjects, and their research was often intertwined with colonial power structures, thereby compromising its integrity. Acknowledging this past, the academic community has rigorously debated the ethics of such engagements. Therefore, the objections raised by anthropologists to military collaborations reflect a broader concern for maintaining the discipline's integrity and the welfare of the people they study.