ABSTRACT
Why are anthropologists useful to governments and their agencies? In essence, this kind of work draws on core skills in anthropology: a commitment to examining the social context in depth, and to understanding the different perspectives and relationships of the people in it. Hills points to several key contributions from anthropology to policy and decision making: its use of ‘grassroots’-level evidence to inform analysis; its strengths in being able to consider events in relation to a wider context; its ability to understand and empathize with diverse views on issues. Honggang Yang is similarly passionate about the potential for anthropology to analyse social dynamics at local and national levels. The concern for social justice that characterizes anthropology leads many practitioners to work with disadvantaged groups. Frank Munger, for example, has promoted the value of ethnography in revealing the various aspects of poverty and economic survival strategies in a globalizing economy.
