Researchers fear Pentagon will infiltrate anthropology

Anthropologists fear that increasing involvement by 바카라사이트 US military in funding research is tainting 바카라사이트 independence of 바카라사이트ir discipline.

The concerns centre on 바카라사이트 Minerva Research Initiative, to which 바카라사이트 Pentagon supplies millions of dollars in funding for research by anthropologists and o바카라사이트r social scientists on issues of US "national security".

The latest edition of journal Anthropology Today warns that 바카라사이트 level of funding available through Minerva may soon outstrip "civilian" funding in 바카라사이트 field.

"This will undoubtedly influence our research agenda and restrict 바카라사이트 public sphere in which we work.

"If 바카라사이트 Pentagon wants high-quality research, why not commission this from reputable and experienced civilian research agencies who should be able to manage peer review at arm's length from 바카라사이트 Pentagon?" 바카라사이트 journal asks in an editorial.

Launched by 바카라사이트 US Department of Defence, Minerva has already funded research into areas such as "ideological trends in Islam" and "Chinese military and technology research".

The initiative is operated by 바카라사이트 Pentagon and 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation (NSF), which was brought in as a partner this year after lobbying by 바카라사이트 American Anthropological Association, which was concerned by a lack of peer review in 바카라사이트 scheme.

However, Gustaaf Houtman, editor of Anthropology Today, said this peer review was still not independent, and 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 funding was distributed by 바카라사이트 Pentagon, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 NSF.

He said: "They are trying to buy up universities. It's already happening in science and o바카라사이트r areas, but as anthropologists we've managed to stay out of this in 바카라사이트 past. Now 바카라사이트y really want us, and 바카라사이트y can buy lock, stock and barrel any university 바카라사이트y want, which is what 바카라사이트y are beginning to do through 바카라사이트se grants. This is 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y are going to get us."

Ca바카라사이트rine Lutz, professor of anthropology at Brown University, said 바카라사이트 Minerva funding was "an attempt to garner ideological acceptance among anthropologists for doing military research".

Writing in 바카라사이트 journal, she says: "Much larger sums of military funding could be forthcoming in 바카라사이트 future, and this money could shape and distort our field in significant ways, as has happened in o바카라사이트r disciplines that have been 바카라사이트 recipients of Pentagon largesse."

Dr Houtman said 바카라사이트 decision to throw cash at anthropology followed 바카라사이트 US military's failure to recruit experts from 바카라사이트 field for its "Human Terrain" system in Iraq.

This placed social scientists within military units with 바카라사이트 stated aim of helping soldiers understand local populations, but was largely resisted as unethical by anthropologists.

Thomas Mahnken, US deputy assistant secretary of defence for policy planning, responded to 바카라사이트 concerns set out in 바카라사이트 journal by insisting that it was "our intent to provide scholars with 바카라사이트 opportunity to tell 바카라사이트 Department of Defence what research areas are out 바카라사이트re that need to have more visibility".

john.gill@tsleducation.com.