The Pragmatics of Ethnography and Intervention: Street Children in Mexico

This article weaves together two interconnected issues. The first concerns how anthropological research throws light on the complexities of implementing development policies aimed at ameliorating what are described as 'social problems' - in this case the plight of street children. The second arises from this discussion - namely, should anthropologists adopt a more politically and ethically engaged stance in defence of the under-privileged and socially excluded? It is concluded that these are serious questions that anthropologists are propelled to ask as they witness the growing inequities of present-day global development.