Safeguarding-Governmentality of the Cultural Heritage

Safeguarding-Governmentality of the Cultural Heritage' by Masood Imran introduces "safeguarding-governmentality" as an analytical framework to understand the relationship between the governmentalisation of cultural heritage, the local inheritors of these traditions, and the state. The book uses this lens to critique the current paradigm of heritage safeguarding programmes in South Asia, specifically examining initiatives at Mahasthangarh, Paharpur, the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat in Bangladesh, and Bhaktapur in Nepal, along with the roles of the actors involved. It also touches on the safeguarding and preservation of archaeological sites in India and Sri Lanka. The analysis reveals that norms developed by transnational agencies have come to dominate heritage management in these countries, and it explores how repressive power is exercised over heritage residents through jurisdiction and the institutionalisation of historical knowledge. The book further investigates the consequences of rendering myths irrelevant in the study of history, a practice that has alienated residents from their own heritage. Adopting an innovative approach to archaeological research, this work will be immensely beneficial for researchers and students of archaeology, anthropology, history, and governance, and is sure to inspire new research in these fields.