I was talking to a couple of colleagues at seminary recently who were speaking of how a major university near us in Baguio City, Philippines, is really focusing on “Decolonization” as it pertains to Anthropology, among many other things.

My immediate response was to be pretty skeptical. I think this is largely because of my experience with some in the past who would speak of restoring the pure and real culture of the Philippines— something that existed prior to Americans, Japanese, and the Spanish, and perhaps the Chinese and Muslims as well. My problems are at least two-fold. One of course is that there was never a “pure” culture— cultures are always diverse, changing, and messy. More importantly, you cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube. Culture is what it is. Attempts to remove adulterating influences are likely to be fruitless, arbitrary, and in some cases ruthless.

However, upon reflection, I don’t think that is what Decolonization involves, at least as it pertains to anthropology. After all, especially pertaining to Missions or Missionary Anthropology:

1. The questions asked in anthropology is driven by traditionally colonizing groups. How would the questions in anthropology change if the questioners were different?
2. What taxonomies would change if the categories were not established historically from colonizing groups?
3. How might pedagogy and methodology change?
4. While noting that anthropology often likes to presume a non-judgmental attitude, what would things look like if others decided what entails being non-judgmental?
5. Despite protests to the contrary, there is always a bit of applied anthropology in the field— and of course this is freely admitted to in Missions Anthropology. What goals or ideals would there be if the liberated or decolonized had more say in this process?

I admit lack of knowledge in this. I am going to looking more into this in the next few weeks. If I find anything of value, I will try to share it here. Of course, I may find my bad attitude given greater conviction. Time will tell.