Knowledge for use: anthropology and community-centered substance abuse research

The anthropological world has changed. The ethnographic Other is no longer available and pliant, awaiting anthropological representation, but has acquired a voice of his/her own. As a result, anthropology is faced with a dilemma. What is to be the anthropological role in this transformed world? Two alternatives are examined. The first, postmodernism, stresses the development of experimental ethnographic texts that inscribe the voice of the transformed Other. Noting the weaknesses of the postmodern 'solution,' this paper proposes community-centered research as a more appropriate response to contemporary social realities. In this approach, the anthropologist seeks collaboration with the Other in the struggle for self-determination. Illustration is provided with the case study of anthropologists employed in a Puerto Rican community based organization (CBO), with specific reference to the emergence and development of the substance abuse prevention and treatment work of this CBO. While noting the difficulties of this role, the paper argues that scholarly activism, a model adopted from the Third World, is well suited to the postmodern world.