Academics and Apartheid

Abstract

'Critique of Anthropology' has sometimes been castigated for having a 'purely intellectual' orientation. Since the journal has no sectarian orientation, those who write for it and read it represent a diversity of political positions and affiliations, and we have no intention of compromising that commitment to diversity. Nevertheless, we do feel that anthropology, at least in the English- speaking West, is sliding towards an increasingly apolitical stance at the present time, and that 'Critique' can and should play its part in raising issues which other anthropology journals seem anxious to avoid. 'Dispatches' will be a regular feature of the journal specifically devoted to the interface between anthropology and political and social action. As always, we invite our readers to submit material to this section, and respond to the pieces we publish. We will also be happy to publish statements from individuals and organisations outside academic anthropology which bear on the social and political responsibilities of anthropologists towards the people we study.