Poetics and politics: Bikini Atoll and World Heritage Listing

Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site, Republic of the Marshall Islands, was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2010 as a globally significant cultural symbol and icon of the 20th century. This designation reflects its dual nature: a landscape ravaged by nuclear testing (1946–1958) and a remote, exotic paradise. The study examines how the atoll's name, appropriated for the bikini swimsuit, became intertwined with its history of destruction, while also serving as a subversive space co-opted by both global and local actors for heritage recognition. The research employs 'Social Poetics' to explore tensions between official cultural narratives and lived experiences, highlighting Bikini's role in political advocacy for displaced Marshallese communities.

Brown, S. (2013). Poetics and politics: Bikini Atoll and World Heritage Listing. Transcending the Culture–Nature Divide in Cultural Heritage. https://doi.org/10.22459/ta36.12.2013.03