What is practicing anthropology? Discuss its growth during the 1st and the 2nd World Wars

Practicing Anthropology refers to the application of anthropological knowledge, methods, and theories to solve real-world problems and address contemporary social, cultural, economic, and environmental issues.

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Unlike traditional academic anthropology, which is primarily focused on research and theory, practicing anthropology is action-oriented and aims to use anthropological expertise to improve societal well-being. This field often involves working directly with communities, organizations, governments, or businesses to implement solutions that address specific needs and challenges.

Key Features of Practicing Anthropology:

1. Problem-Solving: Practicing anthropologists work to address practical issues in diverse fields such as public health, education, human rights, development, environment, and social justice.
2. Applied Research: It involves conducting fieldwork, gathering data, and analyzing social contexts to develop policies or strategies that can lead to positive change.
3. Collaboration: Practicing anthropologists often collaborate with professionals from other fields (e.g., sociologists, economists, policymakers, and healthcare professionals) to address complex problems.
4. Community Engagement: Working directly with communities, often in a participatory role, to identify their needs, gather insights, and co-create solutions.

Growth of Practicing Anthropology During the First and Second World Wars:

1st World War (1914-1918):

The First World War marked a significant turning point in the development of applied or practicing anthropology. During this time, anthropologists began to see the potential of applying anthropological methods to address real-world issues, particularly in the context of warfare and its effects on society.

1. Military and Psychological Applications:
   • During WWI, anthropologists contributed to military efforts by studying cultural differences and the behavior of different ethnic or national groups. This was primarily for strategic purposes, such as understanding enemy combatants or local populations in colonized regions.
   • Psychological anthropology also emerged during this period, focusing on the emotional and psychological impact of war on soldiers, including trauma and stress. Anthropologists began to study the social behaviors and coping mechanisms of soldiers, as well as the ways in which wartime conditions impacted families and communities back home.
2. Research on Social and Cultural Systems:
   • Anthropologists also assisted in the study of war-related social structures, including the transformation of societies under the stress of war. For example, how wartime economies, gender roles, and family structures were affected by the global conflict.
   • This period saw the early use of ethnographic methods to study soldiers’ behavior, military life, and post-war reconstruction efforts. Anthropologists such as Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead contributed to understanding how war influenced cultural adaptation and change.
3. Ethnographic Fieldwork in Colonies:
   • Anthropologists working in colonial territories were asked to study indigenous groups in occupied regions to better understand their societies and customs. This information was often used for military strategy and colonial governance, though it also laid the groundwork for future applied anthropological work.

2nd World War (1939-1945):

The Second World War expanded the role of anthropologists in applied contexts, particularly due to the global nature of the conflict and the various social and political changes it brought about.

1. Military Applications:
   • World War II saw even greater involvement of anthropologists in military efforts, particularly in intelligence and psychological warfare. The U.S. Army, for example, employed anthropologists to help with understanding enemy cultures, creating strategies for propaganda, and interpreting the social dynamics of occupied regions.
   • Anthropologists such as Ruth Benedict and Edward Sapir worked in collaboration with the Office of War Information and the U.S. Department of War to conduct studies on enemy culture and psychological warfare. They provided analyses of the Japanese, German, and Italian societies, which were used to understand the psychology of enemy soldiers and civilians.
   • Anthropologists were also tasked with studying soldier morale, behavior, and training. They researched how different cultures handled military discipline, combat, and post-traumatic stress, and how these findings could improve the effectiveness of training and rehabilitation programs.
2. Post-War Reconstruction and Social Change:
   • After the war, anthropologists played an important role in understanding the social and cultural impacts of the conflict on societies. They worked with reconstruction efforts, particularly in Europe and Asia, to help governments understand how to reintegrate war veterans and civilians into post-war life.
   • The U.S. and European anthropologists also began studying the impact of war on family life, the role of women in war economies, and the changes in gender dynamics caused by wartime shifts in labor and family responsibilities.
3. The Rise of the Professionalization of Applied Anthropology:
   • World War II was also a key period for the institutionalization of applied anthropology. The American Anthropological Association (AAA) began to formally recognize applied anthropology as a distinct field, leading to the development of professional standards for those working in this area.
   • After the war, anthropologists began to find employment with international organizations, development agencies, and governmental bodies that were focused on post-war reconstruction, social reform, and economic development in newly independent nations.
4. International Development and Colonial Transitions:
   • As many former colonies gained independence after WWII, anthropologists became involved in development projects, studying the impact of political, economic, and social changes on these newly established nations. They worked with NGOs, government agencies, and international bodies to provide insights into cultural practices and how they could inform policies in areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
   • Anthropologists used ethnographic research to design development programs that were culturally sensitive and tailored to local needs, in contrast to earlier top-down, one-size-fits-all approaches.

Post-War and Continuing Growth of Practicing Anthropology:

• After the Second World War, applied anthropology gained a broader scope, expanding into fields like public health, urban planning, environmental conservation, and human rights.
• The growth of international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, along with social and political movements in the mid-20th century, created new opportunities for anthropologists to apply their expertise to global issues such as poverty, conflict resolution, and the rights of indigenous people.

Conclusion:

The role of practicing anthropology significantly expanded during both the First and Second World Wars. These global conflicts highlighted the relevance of anthropology in real-world applications, such as military strategy, psychological analysis, social reconstruction, and post-war recovery. The wars acted as catalysts for the development of applied anthropology as a professional field, leading to its continued growth in areas such as international development, healthcare, policy research, and human rights. The experiences of anthropologists during these wars laid the foundation for the contemporary practice of anthropology in addressing complex societal issues.