Theorising ‘Peace-building’ resistance: constructions of time and different temporalities at play in the Preah Vihear Temple conflict

Civil-society mobilizations around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Preah Vihear Temple reveal how subtle forms of 'peace-building' resistance shape national identities and temporal narratives. Governments and civil societies in Cambodia and Thailand manipulate perceptions of past, present, and future to construct nation-building stories, often leveraging shifting notions of time. Unlike traditional analyses focusing on large-scale actions, this study highlights more nuanced resistances—particularly those that challenge prevailing temporal frameworks. By examining discursive constructions around the temple, the research demonstrates how civil-society actors subvert dominant narratives, offering a new lens to understand peace-building dynamics in heritage conflicts.

Lilja, M., & Baaz, M. (2016). Theorising ‘Peace-building’ resistance: constructions of time and different temporalities at play in the Preah Vihear Temple conflict. European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology, 3(4), 426–446. https://doi.org/10.1080/23254823.2016.1203812