Abstract
War is a social phenomenon and understanding the local context in which military forces fight should be a central concern of commanders. In Military Anthropology, Montgomery McFate sets out to understand the ways in which research of social practices and behaviours has influenced military action. In a broad historical sweep, McFate examines the lived experiences of several trained and amateur anglophone anthropologists, finding that careful study of societies can mitigate military missteps. The case for including social and cultural comprehension in contemporary military planning is forcefully made, but two distinct problems remain. Firstly, the study of social intangibles frequently fails to yield actionable insights relevant to planners. Secondly, granular understanding is often too localised to interact meaningfully with strategic plans. Underpinning both issues is an ongoing struggle within anthropology to establish a commonly accepted definition of culture.
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