Gertjan Plets – författare

Heritage Statecraft and Corporate Power examines the politicization of heritage and heritage conflicts in Siberia. In so doing, it challenges the idea that heritage is created by the state and instead argues that heritage creates the state.

Building upon extensive ethnographic fieldwork undertaken in south-central Eurasia, this book provides an analysis of the sociopolitical enmeshment of archaeology and heritage in Russia’s resource colony: Siberia. Although many examples from across Siberia are discussed, the core study region for the book is the Altai Republic, which is located where Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and China intersect. Taking a “heritage statecraft” approach, Plets argues that heritage is a particularly important political instrument in this region. The book considers how different social “groups”—including indigenous communities, Russian settlers, displaced groups, national and international archaeologists, political parties, and energy companies—translate archaeological data into culturally distinct heritages. Plets encourages scrutiny of the different players that mobilize heritage to instill norms and ideas and the ways in which new regulations or institutions are ultimately implemented.

Heritage Statecraft and Corporate Power contributes to key debates around the politics of archaeology, resource development, and cultural heritage. It will be essential reading for academics and students engaged in the study of heritage, archaeology, and memory.

Heritage Statecraft and Corporate Power examines the politicization of heritage and heritage conflicts in Siberia. In so doing, it challenges the idea that heritage is created by the state and instead argues that heritage creates the state.

Building upon extensive ethnographic fieldwork undertaken in south-central Eurasia, this book provides an analysis of the sociopolitical enmeshment of archaeology and heritage in Russia’s resource colony: Siberia. Although many examples from across Siberia are discussed, the core study region for the book is the Altai Republic, which is located where Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and China intersect. Taking a “heritage statecraft” approach, Plets argues that heritage is a particularly important political instrument in this region. The book considers how different social “groups”—including indigenous communities, Russian settlers, displaced groups, national and international archaeologists, political parties, and energy companies—translate archaeological data into culturally distinct heritages. Plets encourages scrutiny of the different players that mobilize heritage to instill norms and ideas and the ways in which new regulations or institutions are ultimately implemented.

Heritage Statecraft and Corporate Power contributes to key debates around the politics of archaeology, resource development, and cultural heritage. It will be essential reading for academics and students engaged in the study of heritage, archaeology, and memory.

This edited volume explores the politics and semantics of heritage rehabilitation practices such as conservation, archaeological excavation, memorialization and rebuilding programs. 

Recent conflicts in the Arab region and Ukraine have demonstrated how heritage is an intrinsic part of contemporary warfare. However, the politicization of heritage reconstruction after conflict receives less attention. While there is consensus on the benefits of reconstruction, a growing number of scholars are now exploring the political agendas encoded in reconstruction programs, and their long-term negative effects on societal recovery. Faced with a contemporary heritage reconstruction wave in the Arab region, but also in (post-)conflict zones like West-Africa and Ukraine, it is important we are aware of the politicking encoded in many heritage aid programs. Through a series of co-authored studies by experts from different disciplines this book aims to identify parameters, practices and institutional organizations that either promote or undermine long-term societal resilience. By combining insights from archaeology, anthropology, conflict and history, this book will explore how heritage reconstructions help to re-shape national and ethno-religious identities and multi-layered memories of affected communities.