How Anthropology was Turned from Intellectual Discipline into Political Activism

George Leef

Among the numerous academic disciplines that have been overrun with political activism is anthropology. In this week's Pope Center Clarion Call essay, emeritus professor Glynn Custred laments the way his discipline (at least a large part of it) has been subverted by militants who don't want anthropologists to do any work that might cause people to doubt cherished "progressive" notions. He also discusses the shameful treatment of the well-known anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon, who had to endure the academic equivalent of a lynch mob for many years.

 

 

 

Image: Library of Ephesus by Chance Layton // CC

  • Share

Most Commented

May 7, 2024

1.

Creating Students, Not Activists

The mobs desecrating the American flag, smashing windows, chanting genocidal slogans—this always was the end game of the advocates of the right to protest, action civics, student activ......

March 9, 2024

2.

A Portrait of Claireve Grandjouan

Claireve Grandjouan, when I knew her, was Head of the Classics Department at Hunter College, and that year gave a three-hour Friday evening class in Egyptian archaeology....

April 20, 2024

3.

The Academic's Roadmap

By all means, pursue your noble dream of improving the condition of humanity through your research and teaching. Could I do it all again, I would, but I would do things very differently....

Most Read

June 5, 2024

1.

Subpoenas for All!

Ohio Northern University gnaws its teeth with an appetite for vindictive lawfare....

May 15, 2015

2.

Where Did We Get the Idea That Only White People Can Be Racist?

A look at the double standard that has arisen regarding racism, illustrated recently by the reaction to a black professor's biased comments on Twitter....

October 12, 2010

3.

Ask a Scholar: What is the True Definition of Latino?

What does it mean to be Latino? Are only Latin American people Latino, or does the term apply to anyone whose language derived from Latin?...