The Ethics of Anthropology and Amerindian Research

by Chacon, Richard J.; Mendoza, Ruben G.

• ISBN13: 9781461410645
• ISBN10: 1461410649
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-12-14
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

The decision to publish scholarly findings bearing on the question of Amerindian environmental degradation, warfare, and/or social violence is one that weighs heavily on anthropologists. This burden stems from the fact that documentation of this may render descendant communities vulnerable to a host of predatory agendas and hostile modern forces.  Consequently, some anthropologists and community advocates alike argue that such culturally and socially sensitive, and thereby, politically volatile information regarding Amerindian conflicts and other depredations should not be reported. This admonition presents a conundrum for anthropologists and other social scientists employed in the academy or who work at the behest of tribal entities. This work documents the various ethical dilemmas that confront anthropologists, and researchers in general, when investigating Amerindian communities. The contributions to this volume explore the ramifications of reporting--and, specfically,--under-reporting on problems in Amerindian. Collectively, the contributions in this volume argue that under-reporting of problems in Amerindian communities generally harm not only  the field of anthropology but the Amerindian populations themselves. This volume extend across a wide range of disciplines, including from archaeology, anthropology, ethnohistory, ethnic studies, philosophy, and  medicine.