World Heritage and WikiLeaks

Leaked US diplomatic cables reveal the intricate hyperconnectivity of heritage, demonstrating how the Temple of Preah Vihear in Cambodia became entangled with international politics, border wars, and economic negotiations following its 2008 UNESCO World Heritage inscription. The study highlights that globalization transforms specific sites into transactional commodities, transcending their historical or material characteristics to serve broader international interests. By analyzing these cables, the research underscores the complex linkages between seemingly unrelated spheres, offering an unprecedented vantage onto the site's contested status and its role in global power dynamics.

Meskell, L. (2016). World Heritage and WikiLeaks. Current Anthropology, 57(1), 72–95. https://doi.org/10.1086/684643