Applied Anthropology

Applied anthropology uses anthropological knowledge and methods to address practical problems — in development, health, policy, business, and community settings.

Scope

It covers development and health anthropology, policy and program evaluation, advocacy, and the ethics of applying anthropology to practical ends.

Core questions

• How can anthropology address real-world problems?
• How is anthropological knowledge used in development and health?
• What are the ethics of applied work?
• How does practice relate to theory?

Key concepts

• Planned change
• Development anthropology
• Advocacy
• Stakeholders
• Program evaluation
• Practice ethics

Key theories

Applied anthropology as a field

Foster systematized anthropology's application to development and planned change.

Practice and ethics

Chambers framed applied anthropology as a distinct domain of practice with its own methods and ethics.

History

Applied anthropology grew from colonial-era practical anthropology and post-war development work into a substantial domain of practice (Foster, Chambers) spanning health, development, business, and policy.

Debates

Engagement versus complicity

Whether applying anthropology serves communities or risks complicity with powerful interests.

Key figures

• George Foster
• Erve Chambers

Seminal works

• foster-1969
• chambers-1985

Frequently asked questions

What is applied anthropology?

The use of anthropological theory and methods to solve practical problems in fields such as development, health, and policy.