Problematising 'the Native'--The measurement of people--Help us to convince governments of our value--Researchers will not 'cause difficulties in the field or after'--Mr Neville did all in his power to assist--A deep-seated aversion or a prudish disapproval--Preserving Aborigines?--Is it not possible for conditions to remain as they are--Managing the impact of war--There is no point sniping at the government
Summary
To date no explorations of modern Australian social anthropology examine the forces that helped shaped its formation. Geoffrey Gray's new book reveals the struggle to establish and consolidate anthropology in Australia as an academic discipline. He argues that to do so, anthropologists had to demonstrate that their discipline was the predominant interpreter of Indigenous life. Thus they were able, and called on, to assist government in the control, development and advancement of Indigenous peoples
