Citation

Paiement JJ. Natl. Assoc. Pract. Anthropol. Bull. 2007; 27(1): 196-223.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Anthropological Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1525/napa.2007.27.1.196

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effects of anthropological theory and methods on development programs and studies. The objective is to answer the question of whether or not more or better social analysis leads to better development outcomes and, if so, how and why. The first part looks at this question from the perspectives of academic anthropologists concerned with the analysis of development as a cultural, economic, and political process. The second part discusses the views of practicing anthropologists working within development agencies and thus more concerned with the use of anthropology as applied to the pursuit of development programs. Both sections summarize the key arguments of the main advocates and detractors of the anthropology and development convergence.