Gertjan Plets has published the article “Heritage statecraft: creating the state and instilling state ideas in the age of late capitalism” in the International Journal of Heritage Studies.
This essay challenges conventional approaches to heritage politics by asserting that heritage is not merely a product of the state but a vital tool in shaping it. Drawing on Timothy Mitchell’s theory of the ‘state effect’ and what political scientists call ‘state theory’, the concept of heritage statecraft is introduced. The paper examines how various actors, including political communities, corporations, and civil society, utilise heritage to construct and project ideas and systems of the state. By exploring the role of heritage in political economy and corporate power, the essay highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of heritage politics beyond nationalism. It advocates for a multi-agenda and actor approach, incorporating insights from political theory and critical heritage studies to address the complex interactions between heritage, statecraft, and power dynamics in contemporary society.
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