The Importance Of Ethics In Anthropology

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Cultural anthropologists must maintain a certain ethical demeanor when conducting fieldwork. This method of investigation engages cultural anthropologists in long-term interactions with people of various societies, and allows them to participate in everyday rituals and routines with those that they are observing. Through the utilization of this method, cultural anthropologists gain information and come to a greater understanding of their target population’s culture. Unfortunately, ethical concerns often arise through this method of study, for there are rules that must be followed when engaging in fieldwork. The Human Terrain System joins Anthropologists with the military to gain insight about local populations, but occasionally ethical standards …show more content…

These types of actions are contested on whether or not they are following the ethical code of conduct as outlined by the American Anthropological Association (AAA). The ethnographic method of research, involves a cultural anthropologist integrating themselves within their target population, with the aim of collecting data about the local customs, economics and politics (Online Ethics 2013). These groups of anthropologists relay the data that they have collected to military superiors, who will then use the obtained information for counterinsurgency strategy in the Middle East (Online Ethics 2013). Many spectators are opposed to the idea of anthropologists conducting fieldwork with such poor ethical structure. The American Anthropological Association reported on the matter stating, “ethnographic investigation is determined by military missions, not subject to external review, where data collection occurs in the context of war, integrated into the goals of counterinsurgency, and in a potentially coercive environment […] it can no longer be considered a legitimate professional exercise of anthropology” (Kolowich 2009). Anthropologists performing this kind of fieldwork risk their lives in order to acquire this information, which neglects their right to protection in their occupation (Online Ethics 2013). Evidently, the HTS not following these guidelines set in place by the AAA presents an issue for all anthropologists associated with this

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