World Heritage in China: Universal Discourse and National Culture

China's engagement with UNESCO World Heritage Sites reflects a dynamic interplay between universal discourse and national culture, reshaping heritage preservation structures and introducing well-theorized frameworks. Contrary to post-colonial critiques, these influences are largely voluntarily pursued by the state, involving multiple agents such as transnational organizations, NGOs, and local inhabitants. The study, focusing on Fujian Tulou among other sites, reveals that World Heritage acts as a dialectical force, influenced by political, cultural, and economic contexts at both local and national levels. This research contributes to sociological literatures on collective memory and neo-institutionalism while offering insights into the complex relationship between universalism and particularism.

Yan, H. (2012). World Heritage in China: Universal Discourse and National Culture [University of Virginia]. https://doi.org/10.18130/V3QC10