Understanding Militarism: Critical Anthropological Perspectives ...

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Joslyn O.

Session organizer, David Vine recorded the session Understanding Militarism: Critical Anthropological Perspectives. If you missed the session, click on the play arrow button to listen:

Sponsored by the Society for the Anthropology of North America and Society for Urban, National and Transnational/Global Anthropology, the session was held on Friday, November 16, 2012.

The militarized response of the United States to the attacks of September 11, 2001?involving at least two wars, the expansion of global military deployments, and skyrocketing military spending?has reminded many that militarism is a major underexplored phenomenon affecting the lives of humans worldwide. Militarism is found in places obvious and not-so-obvious from standing armies to camouflage fashion, the military industrial complex to the Pentagon?s relationship with Hollywood, the growth of drone warfare to the militarization of language and our discipline. Panelists will discuss militarism as a phenomenon and the development of a critical reader on the subject aimed at compiling essential readings on militarism and educating students in anthropology, history, political science, international relations, sociology, and beyond. Each panelist will discuss a different facet of militarism including militarism and human nature; histories and roots of militarism; theorizing militarism; militarized economies; military culture and soldiering; militarized families; fear as a way of life; militarized language, militarized minds; the militarization of place; military bases; post-September 11, 2001 wars; the militarization of law; militarized humanitarianism; militarized popular culture; the militarized university; the militarization of anthropology, social movements against militarism, alternatives to militarism, and demilitarization. The panel will conclude by inviting audience members into a critical discussion of militarism and how anthropologists can better investigate, theorize, and understand the phenomenon. The panel will focus special attention on the United States as today?s ?wellspring? of global militarism (C. Lutz), but will explore various forms of militarism across places and times. In the spirit of the panelists? critical reader and as part of efforts to broaden the impact of anthropological scholarship, the panel will be made freely available to the public as an internet podcast.

This session would be of particular interest to:
Practicing and Applied Anthropologists, Teachers of Anthropology in Community Colleges, Students, Those involved in mentoring activities

Organizers: ?David Vine (American University) and Andrew Bickford (George Mason University)

Chairs: ?Hugh Gusterson (George Mason University)

Discussants: ?Catherine Besteman (Colby College)

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Filed under: Annual Meeting, Events and Exhibits Tagged: | Adrienne Pine, Catherine Besteman, David H. Price, David Vine, Militarism and anthropology, Roberto J. Gonzalez, Society for the Anthropology of North America, Society for Urban National and Transnational/Global Anthropology

Source: http://blog.aaanet.org/2012/12/24/understanding-militarism-critical-anthropological-perspectives-podcast/