A Roundtable Hosted by American Anthropologist
by Jing Xu (University of Washington)
How do technology and U.S. militarism shape one another from the past to the present, and what ethical responsibilities arise for researchers, technology workers, and the public? American Anthropologist organized the roundtable to address these urgent questions. This roundtable features Catherine Lutz, Lucy Suchman, and Roberto González in a discussion moderated by Jing Xu and Yang Zhan, associate editors of the journal. The discussion traced the historical expansion of U.S. militarism, the role of science and technology, and shifting cultural beliefs and political economy. It examined how militarization operates abroad and through everyday infrastructures at home, how the emotion of fear and claims of technological neutrality shape militarization processes, and what AI and automated systems mean for civilian harm and accountability. The speakers also reflected on their sources of hope in research and advocacy within and beyond academia.
SPEAKERS
Catherine Lutz — Professor Emerita of Anthropology and International Studies, Brown University
Lucy Suchman — Professor Emerita, Anthropology of Science and Technology, Lancaster University
Roberto J. González — Professor of Anthropology, San José State University