An Appropriate Role for Postcolonial Applied Anthropologists

Abstract

In this paper an attempt is made to show that many of the roles assumed by applied anthropologists are products of the colonial era. On the basis of an empirically founded deductive hypothesis, the substitution of a clear-cut clinical role is suggested as more appropriate to the postcolonial era. Accordingly the decision-making local group, society, or nation itself, rather than a foreign government, state, or association becomes the anthropologist's client. His or her duties on behalf of the client are specifically limited to information gathering, consultation, and formulating the client group's realistic available options on the basis of prediction of probable group behavior under likely future conditions.