war – ZERO ANTHROPOLOGY

Colonial Feminism, Liberal “Progress,” and the Weakness of the Left

[Max Forte: Welcome to Brendan Stone who, along with Donnchadh Mac an Ghoill, joins ZA as a writer.] In view of Quebec’s Charter debate, the resurgence of discussions of the burqa and the niqab, and the continuing stories in the Western press of women’s oppression in Afghanistan, readers may be interested in this update of a paper written in […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Deflating Empire: The Syrian Threat to the United States

September 9, 2013, 11:43pm–The morning on this side of the Atlantic started with John Kerry’s hoarse voice on the radio, addressing journalists in London and bellowing that the U.S. was not talking about going to war when it talked about military aggression against a state that never attacked the U.S. Acts of war, apparently, are […]

by John Allison

John’s Final Epistle to The Anthropologists, Part I: The Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at the Climax of the Neolithic

Peeping through a Keyhole, Down upon My Knees We are virtually here to discuss with you something that I would call InTRADOCtrination: Intelligent Design for Retraining the Masses The Mission?: We suggest that it is The Locking-In: The Prison-Industrial Complex, well-documented and contextualized by Angela Davis. In fact, she traces my essay’s central themes. You Say You Want […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Now on YouTube: Libya–Race, Empire, and the Invention of Humanitarian Emergency

While the audio is somewhat clearer, and the video motion is “smoother” for those using older computers, the disadvantage is that the video had to be cut into two parts given restrictions placed on my account by YouTube. Overall, however, the file sizes are smaller than they were originally, so the video should also be […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

M. Jamil Hanifi: Questions for Military Anthropology

The following post was submitted by Dr. M. Jamil Hanifi: I am sympathetic with Dr. Brian Selmeski’s guidelines for participation in the Military Anthropology Network. Anthropology is a way of thinking, an attitude, an outlook, and a demeanor least effected by the mere presence of anthropology courses on one’s college transcript. It is chiefly produced […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

“Anthropologize” This!

“I’m frequently accused of militarizing anthropology,” she said. “But we’re really anthropologizing the military.” — Montgomery McFate (source) “We’re looking at this from a human perspective, from a social scientist’s perspective.”– Col. Martin Schweitzer in Afghanistan (source) “This ‘cultural turn’ within DoD [Department of Defense] highlights efforts to understand adversary societies and to recruit ‘practitioners’ […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

New article by Hugh Gusterson: “The bursting global security bubble”

Hugh Gusterson has a new article on Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists titled, “The Bursting Global Security Bubble.” I was tempted to post the whole article here as well, it contains several important observations and critical questions. I will just post an extract: In the 1930s and 1940s, the West’s financial and security structures collapsed. […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Chalmers Johnson, Dennis Kucinich: On Bailing Out Bankers and Butchers

…and continuing from the last two posts for today… Along with Andrew Bacevich, Howard Zinn, and Tom Engelhardt at TomDispatch.com, Chalmers Johnson is one of my favourite American critics of American empire. In an article that is being reproduced across a range of sites, Johnson argues in “We Have the Bailout Money–We’re Spending It on […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

“Anthropology, the Military, and War”: Panel at the AAA

Anthropology, the Military, and War 22 November 2008 04:00 PM – 05:45 PM Type: Session Organizer: Phillips Stevens Chair: Phillips Stevens Participants: Roberto Gonzalez | Montgomery McFate | Brian Selmeski | Kerry Fosher | Abstract: Consonant with the theme of the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association (AAA), “Inclusion, Collaboration & Engagement,” this […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Attack Iran, Elect McCain, Wait for the Punch(line)

Imagine that there has been a steady beat of war drums supporting the notion of attacking Iran, sooner rather than later. This in the midst of a fuel price crisis that “suddenly” reveals the Persian Gulf to be the holder of the world’s most essential commodity. This is in the midst of two wars that […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

09-11-1984, The Calculus of Fear: When Trivial Terrors Become the “Real Threats”

Orange has become America’s new national colour. Before the Hate had proceeded for thirty seconds, uncontrollable exclamations of rage were breaking out from half the people in the room. The self-satisfied sheep-like face on the screen, and the terrifying power of the Eurasian army behind it, were too much to be borne: besides, the sight […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

The First Australopithecus War

Because even chipped paint on a wall is proving to be a distraction. File this under “nonsense”, another entry for my “out there” category. (click for the full sized image, 959 kb) The Story: A war that did not need to be fought. Everyone had land, everyone had food. Some wanted more, or feared they […]