Anthropology and commitment in latin american peasant studies in the middle decades of the twentieth century

Abstract

On different occasions, the political commitment of institutions, foundations and anthropologists, both in the past as well as in the present, has been exposed. This commitment often goes against the ethical recommendations of various professional associations. It seems that for various reasons this commitment became very strong especially in mid-20th century for a significant number of anthropologists in the U.S., UK and elsewhere. Undoubtedly, anthropology took part, and perhaps it still does, in the diffusion of ideologies and in the shaping of public opinion. This attitude became especially visible among anthropologists initially from the U.S. and later from other countries who studied Latin American peasantry. These researchers tended to be committed to development theories often associated with
specific ideologies and institutions. It seems that these theories were diffused by academic networks whose members received funding from powerful organizations which they utilized for research but sometimes also for personal advancement.