Making Applied Anthropology Relevant in Contemporary Guatemala

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of applied anthropology in Guatemala, including its external influences and the sociopolitical context that has shaped experiences, practical strategies, and ethical issues. It illustrates how anthropological theory and methods are put to practice in multi-cultural and politically complex contexts, challenging the traditional distinctions of types of application and practice. It explores the challenges of applying anthropology in the practitioners’ own society. Responses to a short questionnaire and interviews with contemporary principal investigators reveal how applied anthropology is currently perceived by students and local practitioners. The paper includes a description of the methods, examples of transdisciplinary research and of the study of elites, and the challenges posed to local practitioners when applying anthropology in a country riddled with racism, economic inequality, and growing political discontent.