Abstract

These days an increasing number of social anthropologists do not find employment within academia. Rather, many find jobs with commercial organizations or in government, where they run research teams and create policy. These scholars provide a much-needed social dimension to government thinking and practice. Anthropology and Public Service shows how anthropologists can set new agendas, and revise old ones in the public sector. Written for scholars and students of various social sciences, these chapters include discussions of anthropologists’ work with the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence, the UK Border Agency, and the Cabinet Office, and their contributions to prison governance.

Jeremy MacClancy is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Anthropological Centre for Conservation, the Environment, and Development, Oxford Brookes University. His latest books are Ethics in the Field: Contemporary Challenges (with A. Fuentes), and Alternative Countrysides: Anthropological Approaches to Rural West Europe Today.

“A good contribution to mainstream anthropological literature. Anthropology and Public Service will be a valuable and interesting resource for applied and practicing anthropology.” · Riall Nolan, Purdue University

“Anthropology and Public Service is well-crafted and many of the chapters are fascinating to read. This text charts and advances perspectives of applied anthropology.” · Karen Boll, Copenhagen Business School