Heritage destruction and cultural rights: insights from Bagan in Myanmar

A critical examination of the destruction of cultural heritage reveals that broad statements about cultural rights violations may oversimplify complex, context-dependent dynamics. Using Bagan, Myanmar, as a case study, the research highlights the contested nature of heritage protection and the multifaceted motivations behind destructive practices, challenging narrow definitions of 'heritage' and 'destruction.' The study underscores the need for nuanced, contextualized approaches to understanding cultural rights, moving beyond hegemonic perspectives that assume intentional destruction is always ideologically motivated or aggressive.

Kraak, A.-L. (2018). Heritage destruction and cultural rights: insights from Bagan in Myanmar. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 24(9), 998–1013. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2018.1430605