Human Terrain & Anthropology (merged thread)

A new book from London-based Hurst: 'Social Science Goes to War: The Human Terrain System in Iraq and Afghanistan', a collection of chapters edited by Montgomery McFate and Janice H. Laurence.

From the publishers description:

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This volume goes beyond the anecdotes, snippets and blogs to provide a comprehensive, objective and detailed view of HTS. The contributors put the program in historical context, discuss the obstacles it faced, analyse its successes, and detail the work of the teams downrange. Most importantly, they capture some of the diverse lived experience of HTS scholars and practitioners drawn from an eclectic array of the social sciences.

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Link:http://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/...e-goes-to-war/

If you register for alerts there is a discount and free worldwide P&P.

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Originally Posted by davidbfpo

A new book from London-based Hurst: 'Social Science Goes to War: The Human Terrain System in Iraq and Afghanistan', a collection of chapters edited by Montgomery McFate and Janice H. Laurence.

From the publishers description:

Link:http://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/...e-goes-to-war/

If you register for alerts there is a discount and free worldwide P&P.

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Well, THAT should be objective. Next up; History of the Third Reich by Joseph Goebbels.

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Originally Posted by davidbfpo

Hat tip to WoTR for the pointer to a FPRI article by a former HTS member, Ryan Evans; the full title is 'The Seven Deadly Sins of the Human Terrain System: An Insider’s Perspective'. See:http://www.fpri.org/geopoliticus/201...rs-perspective

There is an old RFI that appears to be by the author of this 2013 defence of HTS:http://www.e-ir.info/2013/09/21/the-...-gian-gentile/

Moderator's Note

This thread contains a number of previously stand-alone threads and seven small ones were merged in today. I have left RFI threads on terrain alone. The thread has been re-opened to enable a new post and capturing the announcement recently that the programme was being ended (Ends).

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Evens' critique is the best I've read so far, despite its brevity. Unfortunately, I recognize the few personalities he fails to with pain.

I think it is constructive to understand the corporate mind of the Anthropological community to understand why harnessing Anthropology for military missions is a Bad Idea.

http://forward.com/news/breaking-new...#ixzz3s8JBH3Pe

Yes. the AAA is banning interaction with Israeli Universities, because, well, Palestine! or something...

A short essay 'Academics in Foxholes:The Life and Death of the Human Terrain System' by Christopher Sims in the latest Foreign Affairs:https://www.foreignaffairs.com/artic...emics-foxholes

It has many links so is a valuable resource too.