Impotence and omnipotence : problematising the articulation of anthropological perspectives within the land restitution process

Abstract

This dissertation attempts to illustrate to what extent applied anthropologists operating within institutional contexts can effectively articulate their anthropological perspectives in order to contribute towards effecting positive social change. In order to explore the above thesis, I have reflected upon and analysed my role as an applied anthropologist in an effort to inform and advance an understanding of the strengths and limitations of this role. Accordingly, I have reflected upon my experiences during a three month research internship which I served at the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights (Western and Northern Cape), working on the Ndabeni Land Restitution Claim. Through reflecting upon my own inability to appropriately incorporate anthropological perspectives within the Ndabeni Land Restitution process, I was able to identify two constraints within the institutional context of the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights (Western and Northern Cape) which served to paralyse these perspectives. I concluded that applied anthropologists are simultaneously rendered impotent and omnipotent to articulate their perspectives. This can be attributed firstly to the role applied anthropologists play within the institutional context, and secondly, to the type of knowledge that the institutional context requires applied anthropologists to produce.