The Social Life of Heritage-Making

Abstract

This chapter adopts an anthropological perspective to explore the role played by institutions in the social and historical construction of heritage. Since member states ratified the UNESCO Conventions, national inventories have been collated so that candidacies can be submitted to international lists for recognition and, in turn, return the benefits of this cultural showcase to the nation. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in China and Switzerland, this chapter focuses on the logic underlying processes of selection, which involves both political and administrative bodies. How cultural heritage is interpreted by various stakeholders will be outlined, along with an analysis of practices and narratives that almost inevitably produces friction. The case studies presented here highlight the complexity of cultural meanings and frictions among stakeholders at all levels who claim their ‘rights to cultural heritage’.