Short Abstract:

This roundtable will focus upon how anthropological associations can operate and what they can offer in an era in which anthropology as a discipline is under assault within universities (e.g. as a major that does not prepare students for a job) and in the wider society (e.g. as a defender of multiculturalism in contexts where the assertion of a core set of values is promoted as a bulwark against terrorism).

Long Abstract:

This roundtable will focus upon how anthropological associations can operate and what they can offer in an era in which anthropology as a discipline is under assault within universities (e.g. as a major that does not prepare students for a job) and in the wider society (e.g. as a defender of multiculturalism in contexts where the assertion of a core set of values is promoted as a bulwark against terrorism). It will address how anthropological associations can help promote the discipline when it is increasingly losing its disciplinary identity within universities as anthropologists are merged into schools or clusters (e.g. Social and Cultural Studies) rather than departments of anthropology. The roundtable will also address how national and regional associations can strengthen their impact by initiating activities with global associations such as the World Anthropological Union (WAU), International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) and the World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA). After brief presentations by the roundtable participants the session will be open for queries from the floor and discussion among all those present.

Participants: Chandana Mathur (National University of Ireland), Chair, World Council of Anthropological Associations

Brigitte Bönisch-Brednich (Victoria University of Wellington), Chair, Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa/New Zealand

Nigel Rapport (University of St Andrews), Chair, Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and Commonwealth

Greg Acciaioli (The University of Western Australia), President, Australian Anthropological Society