ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how anthropology has been applied to contemporary social problems. Applied anthropology in the United States developed in the late 1800s mainly for domestic purposes, centering on Native American populations. Anthropologists working in development perform three closely interconnected roles. They collect and analyze information; they help design plans and policies; and they carry out these plans through action. Policies for social impact assessment, for resettlement activities, and for the treatment of indigenous people are among the key development policies that have been crafted by anthropologists working with Agency for International Development and the World Bank. Anthropology's experience with development work has brought several key areas of application into sharp focus. These include policymaking, brokerage, advocacy, and ethics. The presence of diverse stakeholders often creates the need for what anthropologists term cultural brokerage.
