Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism
Despite broadly shared interest in the welfare of ‘precarious lives’, medical anthropology and medical humanitarianism are too often in tension. In this survey, we sketch a history of the two disciplines, then track three major patterns through which anthropologists approach the analysis of medical...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Edinburgh Library
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Medicine Anthropology Theory |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/4801 |
| _version_ | 1818926892846153728 |
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| author | Isabel Beshar Darryl Stellmach |
| author_facet | Isabel Beshar Darryl Stellmach |
| author_sort | Isabel Beshar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite broadly shared interest in the welfare of ‘precarious lives’, medical anthropology and medical humanitarianism are too often in tension. In this survey, we sketch a history of the two disciplines, then track three major patterns through which anthropologists approach the analysis of medical humanitarian efforts. Our three patterns frame medical anthropology as: 1) a critique of medical humanitarianism and its ties to colonialism and globalization, 2) a translation of medical humanitarianism and its associated lexicon, 3) and a reform of medical humanitarianism from the inside out. In highlighting the individual strengths of these three approaches, we argue for the value of medical anthropology – as both a mindset and a method – in health and humanitarian emergencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:04:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b4928b0822a14ff0bc3fdde55fbd9373 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-691X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:04:21Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Edinburgh Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicine Anthropology Theory |
| spelling | doaj.art-b4928b0822a14ff0bc3fdde55fbd93732022-12-21T19:55:40ZengUniversity of Edinburgh LibraryMedicine Anthropology Theory2405-691X2017-12-014510.17157/mat.4.5.4774801Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianismIsabel BesharDarryl StellmachDespite broadly shared interest in the welfare of ‘precarious lives’, medical anthropology and medical humanitarianism are too often in tension. In this survey, we sketch a history of the two disciplines, then track three major patterns through which anthropologists approach the analysis of medical humanitarian efforts. Our three patterns frame medical anthropology as: 1) a critique of medical humanitarianism and its ties to colonialism and globalization, 2) a translation of medical humanitarianism and its associated lexicon, 3) and a reform of medical humanitarianism from the inside out. In highlighting the individual strengths of these three approaches, we argue for the value of medical anthropology – as both a mindset and a method – in health and humanitarian emergencies.http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/4801medical anthropologymedical humanitarianismglobal healthapplied anthropologysuffering slot |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Beshar Darryl Stellmach Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism Medicine Anthropology Theory medical anthropology medical humanitarianism global health applied anthropology suffering slot |
| title | Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism |
| title_full | Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism |
| title_fullStr | Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism |
| title_short | Anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism |
| title_sort | anthropological approaches to medical humanitarianism |
| topic | medical anthropology medical humanitarianism global health applied anthropology suffering slot |
| url | http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/4801 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT isabelbeshar anthropologicalapproachestomedicalhumanitarianism AT darrylstellmach anthropologicalapproachestomedicalhumanitarianism |