SOUTHCOM – ZERO ANTHROPOLOGY

Force Multipliers and Stealth Imperialism

The force multiplier mechanism is not just something envisioned in military writing, but is instead a cornerstone of US intervention, both overt and covert. The CIA uses the term “disruption” when referring to the covert support of allied agencies who aid the CIA in the capture of so-called “terrorists”—collaborating security forces in other countries then […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

The Motion is Passed: The AAA on SOUTHCOM and Florida International University

In our recent alert, “Further Militarization of the Academy: Florida International University, SOUTHCOM, and Strategic Culture,” we directed attention to the important work of Adrienne Pine in uncovering, analyzing, and criticizing the relationship between the Pentagon’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and Florida International University (FIU). Adrienne’s extensive coverage has continued (see for example her very recent […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Further Militarization of the Academy: Florida International University, SOUTHCOM, and Strategic Culture

Many thanks to Adrienne Pine for this important alert, “An Urgent Message to Academics about SOUTHCOM.” In that she presents us with evidence of a striking deepening of the alliance between U.S. academia and military objectives, in this case revolving around the concept of “strategic culture,” and joining Florida International University with the U.S. Southern Command […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

U.S. Congress and the Human Terrain System

To supplement the report by John Stanton, “US Congress Requests Assessment of Army‘s Human Terrain System: Independent Assessment Due from SECDEF by March 2010,” one should note the following background documents to which the request for the assessment refers. The NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 points out that, In the committee report […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

(Re)Imperializing Anthropology and Decolonizing Knowledge Production

I presented the paper below, “(Re)Imperializing Anthropology and Decolonizing Knowledge Production,” at the 8th Annual Critical Race and Anti-colonial Studies Conference of Researchers and Academics of Colour for Equality (R.A.C.E.), held at Ryerson University in Toronto, 14-16 November, 2008. Almost a year has passed since I promised to post it here, and I suspect that […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

The “Culture” Virus: The Human Terrain System spreads to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean

The intention of the links and extracts to follow is to show the spread of the U.S. military’s intention to build on the Human Terrain System in penetrating local cultures and intervening in local societies across the planet. Of course anthropology is singled out for “special mention,” now that in the minds of the state […]