Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses the future of anthropological practices in East Asia. Its major goal is to create a forum in which anthropologists of different backgrounds based in East Asia can interact in building an anthropological commons within the framework of "world anthropologies."

Paper long abstract:

"Anthropologies" (in the plural form) throughout the world entail different practices stemming from different social, cultural, and historical backgrounds. Under the name of anthropology, anthropologists may be doing different things. In this context, the idea of an "interactive anthropology" was created to forge a space within which different anthropologies can meet and interact. The necessity for transnational interaction is becoming increasingly urgent, especially after the rapid development of anthropology in Asia in the latter half of the 20th century. Yet, East Asian anthropologists are not necessarily aware of what kind of anthropology their East Asian colleagues are doing. Based on recent transnational interactions among anthropologists in East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and including some Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand), this paper intends to promote anthropological practices across the region. Its major goal is to create a forum in which anthropologists of different backgrounds based in East Asia can interact on equal footing in order to work towards building a common base of anthropological knowledge and practices. It is intended to enlarge the anthropological horizon in pursuit of a "global anthropological commons" within the paradigm of a "world anthropologies" framework.