When we re-launched the Interface Commission a few years ago, the initial idea was to build stronger bridges between anthropology and society and create more space for anthropological engagement both within and outside academia. As I will hand over the presidency of the Commission to Eda Elif Tibet and Mike Poltorak at the General Assembly in a couple of days, I wanted to share a few reflections on the road. What was initially just “a good idea” was soon welcomed by the Ellen Hertz and formalized in a General Assembly in the pre-COVID era.
During the next months and years, we were able to constitute to an ever-growing group of anthropologists sharing thoughts, insights and practices either on-line or in person. Some were based in academia, others worked outside or considered themselves in transition. All shared a passion for continuing and deepening anthropologically informed conversations. During COVID, our engaged conversations offered a unique space for staying in contact, building a community of practice and deepening exchange. It was a precious moment when we were able to meet again in person.
The home offered by the SSE/ SEG and the Swiss Academies was instrumental in offering an arena and funding opportunities for our work. This included workshops on anthropological engagement and initial seed-money to kick-start our interface summer schools. Such events were instrumental in bridging ideas and practice also responding to a high demand among students to visibilize and valorize other forms of anthropology and forms of engagement I recall with pride the summer schools co-organized with Doris Bacalzo and have been particularly pleased to follow the inspiring work and efforts of students from across Switzerland.
A special issue on "Engaged Anthropology in and beyond Switzerland" with the Swiss Anthropological Journal (Tsantsa at the time), was an important milestone for our collective effort. Our Commission web-site, designed by Eda Elif Tibet, has also become an important vehicle for showcasing anthropological engagement in different spheres both home and abroad.
Over the years, we’ve touched upon on many themes, spearheaded multi-modal approaches and deepened thinking about collaborative approaches, decolonial learning circles and transformative anthropology. A forthcoming book project on decoloniality and the recently adopted Ascona Charter and a special section of the Journal of the Swiss Journal of Sociocultural Anthropology are just two examples of the many ways Interface continues to break new ground. Yet, much more is in the making from education to collaborative learning.
In all our work, we have benefited from great networks and allies from the Centro Incontri Umani in Ascona hosting our exchanges to recent partnerships with the European Association of Social Anthropology. Our conversations matter well-beyond the confines of Switzerland not least in the current climate of toxic populism, polarization and conflict! It's been a real privilege to learn from and contribute to these engagements. I am particularly happy that Eda Elif Tibet and Mike Poltorak have agreed to take up the co-presidency of the Interface Commission. Whereas the formal announcement will be made at the General Assembly on the 22nd of November, both have long been at the forefront of shaping the Commission’s work. I can’t wait to see where this will take us all!
Warm regards,
Peter
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