A New Politics of Heritage Reconstruction in Afghanistan; In the Shadow of the Buddhas; 1

A New Politics of Heritage Reconstruction in Afghanistan investigates the politics of cultural heritage preservation in Afghanistan between 2008 and 2015. Based on several periods of ethnographic fieldwork and the author’s direct employment on several internationally-sponsored heritage projects, this book studies the new and complex intersections between cultural heritage and politics in Afghanistan. Wyndham argues that a particular configuration of heritage and politics has emerged after the destruction of the Buddhas at Bamyan and demonstrates how the characteristics of this ‘post-Bamyan’ heritage paradigm are revealed through a number of case studies of internationally sponsored heritage work. These case studies reveal how politics and heritage are currently configured across a diverse range of governments, state and non-state actors, NGOs, individuals and forms of expertise―and why such intersections matter. The book responds to a call from across the discipline of Heritage Studies to look more closely at the relationships between heritage, power and politics. A New Politics of Heritage Reconstruction in Afghanistan provides a fascinating case study on the intersection of heritage and politics that will be of interest to students and scholars of heritage, as well as to professionals working on heritage preservation - both within and outside of government. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Figures Acknowledgements Introduction After Bamyan: A new political paradigm for heritage Structure of this volume 1. International intervention in Afghanistan 2001-2021 Introduction A military intervention The Bonn Agreement A history of international assistance and the Afghan state The post-2001 reconstruction project Aid and global security The Afghan state and state-building Ethnic groupings and religious affiliations Regional players Afghanistan and the UN Development Goals The reconstruction of Afghanistan's cultural heritage Conclusions 2. Arriving at the field: Heritage, national reconstruction and power Methodology Methods Risk assessment and ethical considerations Field sites Bamyan The Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Balkh Conclusions 3. New intersections: Theories of heritage and power Introduction Heritage, power and politics A preoccupation with a global/local dichotomy Cultural heritage, cultural diplomacy and soft power A power framework from International Relations Direct or hard power Diffuse forms of power Power, anthropology and international development 4. A 'Post-Bamyan' heritage paradigm: New global configurations of heritage and politics The Buddhas in a global heritage discourse New forms of heritage diplomacy Heritage for international development Heritage for post-conflict rehabilitation An 'Islamic heritage' discourse Heritage spectacles Conclusions 5. Looking for 'Europe in Asia': Historical heritage intervention in Afghanistan 1833-2001 Introduction A brief cultural history Imperial paradigm: British colonialism and archaeology (1833-1850) Charles Masson in Afghanistan (1833-1842) Looking for a European past, moral authority and a 'civilising mission' Modernisation paradigm: French archaeologists and Afghan nation building (1920-1960) Amanullah Khan and the French archaeologists French political objectives Cultural diplomacy 'on the ground' Constructing an Afghan national heritage (1930-1960) Cold War paradigm: Soviets, the US and Afghan archaeology (1960-1990) Cold war dynamics and Afghan archaeology Loss and destruction during the conflict Conclusions 6. Reconstructing Afghan identity?: Nation-building and the safeguarding of Afghanistan's Buddhist heritage A new politics of Afghanistan's pre-Islamic heritage International technical expertise at the Buddhas A conflict of expertise An ambivalence about pre-Islamic heritage 'We value Islamic heritage over Buddhism' Displaying pre-Islamic heritage Pre-Islamic heritage and public relations Mes Aynak and Buddhist heritage under threat 'Little source of copper' Heritage for 'hearts and minds' A narrative of threat Military engagement Conclusions 7. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture and differentiated soft power in Balkh The Aga Khan Trust for Culture A hybridised approach Mutually affirming agendas The history and heritage of Balkh 'Mother of Cities' A history of the Khwaja Parsa complex Heritage preservation and public relations Heritage as an international 'calling card' The soft power of pluralism The hard politics of economic investment 'On the ground' in Balkh Local experts A hybridised approach in practice Social authenticity Local public relations Conclusions 8. 21st century Orientalism: Turquoise Mountain and the liberal intervention A vision for heritage preservation Preserving Afghan 'traditions' 'Heritage for development' Popular guided tours Turquoise Mountain and Orientalism Orientalism 'on the ground' Marketing Afghan 'traditions' Craft and the language of the liberal intervention Orientalism, dialogue and empathy Conclusions 9. Bamyan, the Buddhas and a Hazara political space 'They're SO big aren't they?' The Hazaras Bamyan The Buddhas 'resplendent with ornamentation' Shifting interpretations The Buddhas as 'world heritage' A daily reminder of past violence Local ideas of authenticity The Buddhas and a Hazara history-making project 'The destruction of the Buddhas put us on the map!' A rising Hazara political consciousness A narrative of marginalisation 'One Night with Buddha' Conclusions Conclusions References Index