A Review of Gönül Bozoğlu, Gary Campbell, Laurajane Smith, Christopher Whitehead (eds), The Routledge International Handbook of Heritage and Politics. New York: Routledge, 2024, XXV+618 рp.

Abstract

This volume is a large-scale, interdisciplinary exploration of the political dimensions of heritage in a global context. Comprising more than 30 chapters organised into eight thematic sections, the volume offers both breadth and depth. Each section is introduced by a “provocation” — a concise, critical essay that foregrounds the most urgent and complex questions raised by the theme. The contributors examine how heritage is produced, redefined, and mobilised to consolidate or contest power, identity, nationalism, and economic interests. Key issues addressed include the role of emotions in shaping heritage, the impact of populist and authoritarian regimes on heritage management, the significance of grassroots activism, decolonial practices, and processes of urban transformation. The book also interrogates the role of international organisations, notably UNESCO, in shaping global heritage agendas. Covering an impressive range of geographical and thematic contexts — including Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and the Middle East — the volume provides a truly comparative perspective. It advances critical reflection on the very concept of “heritage politics,” calling for renewed methodological approaches and underscoring the ethical responsibilities of heritage professionals. As such, this peer-reviewed publication stands as both a manifesto of critical heritage studies and an innovative contribution to understanding the role of heritage in contemporary social, cultural, and political transformations.