Affiliation:
1. Faculty of Sociology at Bielefeld University, Germany
Abstract
Selective readings of the past and how these contribute to ideas of legitimacy
and heritage are considered in this chapter. Certain aspects of the
past are emphasized while others are marginalized. The Lao authorities
present themselves as the entirely legitimate guardians of what is presented
as traditional Lao culture, while simultaneously marginalizing dissenting
voices, although ideally without direct conflict. This fits with the agenda of
UNESCO. Luang Prabang, portrayed as an ancient and timeless city, is an
anomaly in wider agendas of development in Laos, amidst the prevailing
narrative of ambitious development in the country. This raises questions
about aspirations for modernity and imaginaries for the future of Laos.
Publisher
Amsterdam University Press