racticing Anthropology Practicing Anthropology in a time of crisis: 2009 Year n Review Keri Vacanti Rondo ABSTRACT The breadth and reach of practicing anthropologists in 2009 suggests that anthropology has entered a new phase of advanced engagement at local, national, and international levels. In this article, I review thematic areas in which practicing anthropologists made significant contributions in 2009, including fiscal crisis and business anthropology: U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms; human rights, environmental change, and displace. ment; global health and human rights; and war and peace. New areas of expansion are also discussed in the arenas of public archaeology, museums and heritage, and engaged scholarship Innovations in anthropological research and communicating ethnographic findings with the broader public are reviewed Keywords: practicing anthropology public anthropology, 2009 trends, anthropological impacts PRACTICING ANTHROPOLOGY IN A TIME poration or community); and commitment to social justice OF CRISIS: 2009 YEAR IN REVIEW Rather than take up this debate, my approach is to apply the In 2008, anthropologists undoubtedly distinguished them- broadest possible definition of public anthropology and re selves as relevant to public debates on disaster recovery, main inclusive of the variety of ways in which anthropologists warfare, climate change, and health inequalities(see Checker gage in pl blic dial 2009a). With the dawning of 2009, anthropologists contin- Topical areas to which anthropologists made substantial ued to speak to the fiscal, ecological, and human crises that contributions in 2009 are organized to reflect the contin- defined the year for the majority of the globe. The election uum of engagement, from contract anthropology and public ama and transfer of power from the previous policy work toward more advocacy-oriented ethnograph eight years of the Bush administration ushered in a message These include:(1)fiscal crisis and business anthropology of "hope"that a more equitable world was on the horizon (2)U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms through the possibility of meaningful healthcare reform, cli- (3)human i ts,environmental change, and displacement nate talks, and the withdrawal of troops from u.S.(4)global health and human rights; and (5)war and pea anthropology engaged these and other key dialogues with In addition to these topical areas, I cover four areas of ex oth optimism and caution through a variety of new venues, pansion for public anthropology: (1)the growth of public invo/ again highlighting the importance of the discipline's archaeology and evolving relationship between museums In this article, I highlight a series of broad topical areas action-oriented anthropologists; (3)advancements within in which practicing and public anthropologists have made professional associations to better serve practicing anthro substantive contributions over the 2009 calendar year. In ologists; and(4) new methods for engaging and bridging accordance with the framing of the public anthropology re- multiple publics. It is clear that, at the close of the first view section for AA, I use the labels"practicing anthropology" decade in the new millennium, anthropology has established 2008: 172). The discussion over what constitutes "public" ernance settings as well as in community engagement, oor and"public anthropology"interchangeably(see Johnston its place in both international and domestic policy and gov It focuses on uestions over the degree of collaboration and the nature of the contractual relationships between anthropologists and FISCAL CRISIS AND BUSINESS ANTHROPOLOGY the communities they study place of research origination In the wake of the u.S. economic collapse and sub- (university or beyond); beneficiaries of findings(e.g,, cor- sequent government bailouts to the auto and financia AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Vol. 112, Issue 2, pp. 208-218, ISSN 0002-7294 online ISSN 1548-1433. 2010 by the American Anthropological Association. All rights reserved. DOL: 10.1111/j.1548-1433201001220.xPracticing Anthropology Practicing Anthropology in a Time of Crisis: 2009 Year in Review Keri Vacanti Brondo ABSTRACT The breadth and reach of practicing anthropologists in 2009 suggests that anthropology has entered a new phase of advanced engagement at local, national, and international levels. In this article, I review thematic areas in which practicing anthropologists made significant contributions in 2009, including fiscal crisis and business anthropology; U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms; human rights, environmental change, and displace￾ment; global health and human rights; and war and peace. New areas of expansion are also discussed in the arenas of public archaeology, museums and heritage, and engaged scholarship. Innovations in anthropological research and communicating ethnographic findings with the broader public are reviewed. Keywords: practicing anthropology, public anthropology, 2009 trends, anthropological impacts PRACTICING ANTHROPOLOGY IN A TIME OF CRISIS: 2009 YEAR IN REVIEW In 2008, anthropologists undoubtedly distinguished them￾selves as relevant to public debates on disaster recovery, warfare, climate change, and health inequalities (see Checker 2009a). With the dawning of 2009, anthropologists contin￾ued to speak to the fiscal, ecological, and human crises that defined the year for the majority of the globe. The election of Barack Obama and transfer of power from the previous eight years of the Bush administration ushered in a message of “hope” that a more equitable world was on the horizon through the possibility of meaningful healthcare reform, cli￾mate talks, and the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. U.S. anthropology engaged these and other key dialogues with both optimism and caution through a variety of new venues, once again highlighting the importance of the discipline’s involvement in public discourse. In this article, I highlight a series of broad topical areas in which practicing and public anthropologists have made substantive contributions over the 2009 calendar year. In accordance with the framing of the public anthropology re￾view section for AA, I usethe labels “practicing anthropology” and “public anthropology” interchangeably (see Johnston 2008:172). The discussion over what constitutes “public” versus “practicing” anthropology is ongoing. It focuses on questions over the degree of collaboration and the nature of the contractual relationships between anthropologists and the communities they study; place of research origination (university or beyond); beneficiaries of findings (e.g., cor￾AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Vol. 112, Issue 2, pp. 208–218, ISSN 0002-7294 online ISSN 1548-1433. c 2010 by the American Anthropological Association. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1111/j.1548-1433.2010.01220.x poration or community); and commitment to social justice. Rather than take up this debate, my approach is to apply the broadest possible definition of public anthropology and re￾main inclusive ofthe variety of ways in which anthropologists engage in public dialogue. Topical areas to which anthropologists made substantial contributions in 2009 are organized to reflect the contin￾uum of engagement, from contract anthropology and public￾policy work toward more advocacy-oriented ethnography. These include: (1) fiscal crisis and business anthropology; (2) U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms; (3) human rights, environmental change, and displacement; (4) global health and human rights; and (5) war and peace. In addition to these topical areas, I cover four areas of ex￾pansion for public anthropology: (1) the growth of public archaeology and evolving relationship between museums and communities; (2) the expansion of academically based action-oriented anthropologists; (3) advancements within professional associations to better serve practicing anthro￾pologists; and (4) new methods for engaging and bridging multiple publics. It is clear that, at the close of the first decade in the new millennium, anthropology has established its place in both international and domestic policy and gov￾ernance settings as well as in community engagement. FISCAL CRISIS AND BUSINESS ANTHROPOLOGY In the wake of the U.S. economic collapse and sub￾sequent government bailouts to the auto and financial