Universal heritage meets local livelihoods: ‘awkward engagements’ at the world cultural heritage listing in Bali

The UNESCO World Heritage listing of Bali's Cultural Landscape, recognizing the Subak system as a manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, has led to significant 'awkward engagements' on the ground. These challenges include uncontrolled development, disputes over benefit allocation, and governance issues, which stem from the gulf between global World Heritage standards and local community needs. Through ethnographic study, the research highlights how local agencies, left to manage the site independently, face complex problems that undermine the intended benefits of heritage recognition. The findings underscore the unintended consequences of such listings when local contexts are not adequately considered in implementation.

MacRae, G. (2017). Universal heritage meets local livelihoods: ‘awkward engagements’ at the world cultural heritage listing in Bali. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 23(9), 846–859. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2017.1339107