Confirming, suturing and transforming international recognition: the case of world heritage

International recognition through UNESCO World Heritage List (WHL) inscription is not uniform, as demonstrated by the contrasting narratives of Scotland's Forth Bridge and Indonesia's Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage. While both sites were celebrated for their industrial significance, Indonesia's delegation had to navigate colonial connotations before framing the site as a modern achievement. The study identifies three modes of recognition pursuits—confirming, suturing, and transforming—that states employ to address uneven recognition landscapes. By analyzing post-inscription speeches from state delegations, the research reveals how symbolic structures shape recognition trajectories and how creative state engagements can reshape these dynamics.

Kalaycioglu, E. (2025). Confirming, suturing and transforming international recognition: the case of world heritage. International Theory, 17(2), 208–237. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1752971925000041