News Release

CLASA presents Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic

The Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive is hosting a talk with two anthropologists, as well as a viewing of the film "Human Terrain" on Thursday, April 7 from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in Ford Life Sciences Building Room 113 on the McNichols campus.

"Human Terrain" is a film that explores the military’s use of social scientists in Afghanistan war operations. Social scientists are used by the United States military in an effort to win over Iraqi and Afghani citizens through cultural awareness. Two anthropologists, Roberto Gonzalez and Hugh Gusterson, will be available for questions and are featured in the film.

Roberto Gonzalez works at San Jose State University as a sociocultural anthropologist. His work focuses on the relationship between humans and their environment, militarism and culture, as well as science, technology and society. He has written several books including: Anthropologists in the Public Sphere: Speaking Out on War, Peace and American Power, American Counterinsurgency: Human Science and the Human Terrain as well as a chapter in The Counter-Counterinsurgency Manual.

Hugh Gusterson works as a professor of Anthropology at George Mason University, where he researches militarism, social movements, social theory and nuclear weapons. He has authored many books dealing with militarism, including: People of the Bomb, Nuclear Rites, Why America's Top Pundits Are Wrong as well as a chapter in The Counter-Counterinsurgency Manual.

This event is co-sponsored by UDM's Language and Cultural Training Program. This is a free event and is open to the public. For more information, please contact CLASA Director Dr. Gail Presbey 313-993-1124 or at presbegm@udmercy.edu.

Release date: April 10, 2011

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