Processes of Constituting „World Heritage“ and their Meaning in Cambodia

Project Director: Prof. Dr. Brigitta Hauser-Schäublin (Cultural and Social Anthropology)
Research Associate: Aditya Eggert M.A.

Working with examples from Cambodia, this ethnological project focuses on processes that bring or have already brought forth UNESCO world heritage. The temple complex of Angkor was proclaimed an endangered world heritage site by UNESCO already in 1992 is the first case; the temple complex of Preah Vihear on the border of Cambodia and Thailand was nomainted in 2008 and is our second example. The third case concerns a form of intangible culture whicht he Cambodian government is currently considering for nomination.

Angkor, located in the district of Siemreap, was uncovered by French archeologists, This Hindu Buddhist site suffered great losses during the Vietnam War and due to the international art dealings of that era. The project inquires what consequences and meaning this site has for people who now live in this world heritage region which – due to the UNESCO status – has new protective zoning laws. The site has become an internationally attractive tourism destination. We will research the different groups of actors and their differential agency, and their complementary as well as competitive interests and power on the local, regional, national, inter- and transnational level (carried out by research fellows Dr. Keiko Miura, Japan and Dr. Baromey Neth, Cambodia).

Similarly, processes of constituting world heritage and associated rights can be observed in our second example. The nomination of the temple complex of Preah Vihea resulted in heavy border skirmishes between Cambodia and Thailand. There is a long history surrounding this embattled border (drawn by the French colonial power at the beginning of the 20th century), but the nomination reignited memories and the antagonism has reached new dimensions (carried out by Prof. Dr. Brigitta Hauser-Schäublin).

The Cambodian interest to seek a UNESCO nomination for a facet of intangible culture, finally, offers an opportunity to observe different groups of actors engaged in constituting heritage and ethnographically accompany processes of selection, decision making and dossier documentation in statu nascendi (carried out by Aditya Eggert, M.A.).