Navigating Crises of Scale in the Anthropocene

Abstract

In our contemporary era, anthropologists are increasingly tasked with studying crises of scale—that is, studying issues related to existential threats such as ecological degradation, inequality, and suffering amid landscapes of uncertainty. Such work takes an emotional toll that is rarely acknowledged in anthropological literature. In this article, using our work on plastics as a lens, we ask what anthropologists have to offer that is of real problem-solving value and how they can sustain their resilience during such engagement. We proffer a stance that we term ‘pragmatic melioration’, which focuses on harm reduction and problem solving (albeit imperfect) in the messiness of the here-and-now, and speak to how such a stance has helped us stay motivated despite reflexive distress.