50 years of professionalization of Ecuadorian anthropology: themes, directions, and perspectives

Abstract Since the 1940s, the Ecuadorian social sciences have witnessed various efforts made to institutionalize the teaching of anthropology in Ecuador. This attempt was finally materialized in 1971 with the creation of the first department of anthropology, attached to the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE). Along the way traveled, the influence of the various "anthropologies of the world" is notorious. Towards the end of the 20th century and the beginning of this century, other undergraduate and graduate careers were created, with which the focus of training in anthropology, the fields of action and topics of interest diversified exponentially. Fifty years after its professionalization, in this article, we explore the achievements, the paths traveled and the challenges that anthropology faces in Ecuador.