Review | Angkor Wat’s modern history reclaimed from French colonialists, and the cultural politics of Unesco
- The Khmer empire temples of Angkor are Cambodian, aren’t they? For decades the French considered them theirs; then came Unesco, and now China is muscling in
- Historian shows how they became a cultural-political football, abused for ‘identity construction’ by whoever was ruling Cambodia
Angkor Wat: A Transcultural History of Heritage, by Michael Falser, De Gruyter, 4/5 stars
Yet Michael Falser still finds a lot to say in his recent book, Angkor Wat: A Transcultural History of Heritage, by focusing on the modern history of the Angkor complex, with the objective of dismantling European narratives of cultural-heritage making that date from the 19th century.
Heritage is never divorced from politics and is therefore a complex and sensitive topic, one which raises critical questions about the cultural politics of Unesco and other specialised agencies, particularly in developing countries.
Falser’s two-volume book offers not only a history of the Angkor archaeological site in the context of French intervention in Cambodia, but also a critical reflection on the practices of European-derived heritage making and their application in the present day.
