The Association for Political and Legal Anthropology (APLA) is a section of the American Anthropological Association (AAA). Its members share interests in issues of contemporary importance in the fields of political and legal anthropology, including nationalism, citizenship, political and legal processes, the state, civil society, colonialism and post-colonial public spheres, multiculturalism, globalism, immigration, refugees, and media politics.

* Publication of PoLAR: The Political and Legal Anthropology Review
* Organization of panels, workshops, and invited lectures at the AAA annual meetings
* Sponsorship of the APLA annual student paper prize
 

The APLA is a membership organization which sustains communication among members through:

* Publication of a monthly APLA column in the Anthropology News
* Messages to subscribers of the APLA-L electronic mailing list

APLA Bylaws