Anthropology has traditionally been seen as a science that deals with the past and with ‘exotic’ cultures. However, it is very much focused on the present and the larger ‘global village.’ Anthropology studies ongoing change in all cultures, but also applies its knowledge.

Culture change presents problems, especially during the process of acculturation when a society attempts to realign and maintain its system. Our world is becoming increasingly smaller, and change is inevitable. Examining Hutterite colonies over time offers a good illustration. To meet the demands of change, education has expanded for both students and teachers alike. Change has made it increasingly difficult to retain the younger members, and outside influences have crept into the colonies. Change is carefully controlled and limited to maintain financial success and assure independence, while allowing the young to still feel in touch with mainstream culture.
Sending some to college is part of the new approach, starting a website to provide data-collecting. Their lives, history, and beliefs are another example.

The Dani of New Guinea have had little control over change in their society. The Indonesian government has put an end to endemic warfare, and army and police posts have been established. The Trans Irian Highway now connects the north and south coasts, and runs through the Baleim Valley. Residents from other parts of Indonesia now reside there. Old customs have given way to rice farming, cattle, fish, coffee, and tourism, worshipping at Christian churches is also a part of Dani culture today.

The San of Namibia offer a third example of culture change. As part of apartheid policy the government of South Africa settled them in a designated area in 1960. Some men worked on road gangs, but many were unemployed. Women were involved in domestic chores, and children were expected to attend school. Change resulted in boredom, alcoholism, and increased violence. Since 1966 native Namibian males fought for independence from South Africa under SWAPO (South-West African Peoples Organization). The South African Government has responded with troops and has induced the young, recruiting locals, enticing them with good wages. They have conducted raids into neighboring Angola. Warfare has divided the indigenous peoples, and has created social stratification into a traditional egalitarian society. Resentment and conflict have resulted, and with it, violence and alcoholism.

Namibian independence was granted in 1990, but was a mixed blessing. Idleness and demand for land once protected resulted. Anthropologists worked with locals, to enact restrictions. This required elections of a leader to a formerly egalitarian society, ownership and division of land.

San people in neighboring Botswana experienced encroachment on their lands by private ranching and syndicates. Grazing lands became dustbowls as a result. The government controls stores, schools, and feeding programs, and has transformed a foraging society into one of small herders, farmers, and craft producers.

The role of anthropology in the modern world can be applied to an understanding of the nature and evolution of human behavior. It is important to understand differences in beliefs and behavior and in understanding violence. Relations between the sexes and attitudes and ideas regarding gender to better understand what has been considered deviations from normal sexual and gender behavior and place them into a cultural/biological context.

Health issues, nature/cause of variation in disease, frequency/ways in which societies categorize/think about disease, AIDS is an obvious example. It may work in our favor to compare modern world health with foragers.

Forensic anthropology has been utilized to solve crimes, in the identification of victims, and in the disclosure of war crimes in the Balkans and the Middle East. Anthropology has provided insight into historical trends. Archaeology has successfully traced the origins of farming and in the benefits/problems related to change.

Ethical and practical applications have involved defining what culture is and how it operates and the ways in which culture varies. This had helped in understanding our own culture and in examining others. International business applications have been one benefactor. Investigation of biological diversity and ‘race’ is another practical application. World population growth and family planning through the understanding of the traditional view is also helpful. What are the cultural reasons for violence? And finally, the participation of people in change and providing them with a voice in helping to predict and guide change is yet another goal.