Politics, Policy and the Discourses of Heritage in Britain

This book offers a critique of the dominant conceptualization of heritage found in policy, which tends to privilege the white, middle and upper classes. Using Britain as an illustration, Waterton explores how and why recent policies continue to lean towards the predictable melding of cultural diversity with tendencies of assimilation. The book examines a wide range of issues pertinent to cultural policy, and takes as its focus the intersection of heritage with recent calls for social inclusion. Despite attempts to mitigate instances of exclusion, newer policies continue to lean towards the predictable melding of cultural diversity with tendencies of assimilation. This is because all too often such policies fall back on limited representations of heritage, thereby constraining the different ways in which it may be imagined and articulated in social life. Significantly, this has allowed for the discursive and material projection of a white, middle-class past as universal and grounded in common sense, not only nationally but internationally as well. More worrying still is the projection of this vision into the future, as if by inevitable progression the same cultural symbols will be valued then as they supposedly are now. This book seeks to expose these tendencies while at the same time underscoring the consequences for any nation attempting to assert herself as multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious The Book Examines A Wide Range Of Issues Pertinent To Cultural Policy, And Takes As Its Focus The Intersection Of Heritage With Recent Calls For Social Inclusion. Despite Attempts To Mitigate Instances Of Exclusion, Newer Policies Continue To Lean Towards The Predictable Melding Of Cultural Diversity With Tendencies Of Assimilation. This Is Because All Too Often Such Policies Fall Back On Limited Representations Of Heritage, Thereby Constraining The Different Ways In Which It May Be Imagined And Articulated In Social Life. Significantly, This Has Allowed For The Discursive And Material Projection Of A White, Middle-class Past As Universal And Grounded In Common Sense, Not Only Nationally But Internationally As Well. More Worrying Still Is The Projection Of This Vision Into The Future, As If By Inevitable Progression The Same Cultural Symbols Will Be Valued Then As They Supposedly Are Now. This Book Seeks To Expose These Tendencies While At The Same Time Underscoring The Consequences For Any Nation Attempting To Assert Herself As Multi-ethnic, Multi-cultural And Multi-religious. Critical Discourse Analysis And Cultural Policy -- Heritage In The Wider World -- The Discursive Blueprint: A History Of Heritage Policy -- New Labour, New Heritage? -- On Being Radical: The Heritage Protection Reform -- Turning The Trick By Itself: The Historic Environment And 'community Cohesion'. Emma Waterton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-250) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-17 Critical Discourse Analysis and Cultural Policy....Pages 18-35 Heritage in the Wider World....Pages 36-71 The Discursive Blueprint: A History of Heritage Policy....Pages 72-106 New Labour, New Heritage?....Pages 107-147 On Being Radical: The Heritage Protection Reform....Pages 148-182 Turning the Trick by Itself: The Historic Environment and ‘Community Cohesion’....Pages 183-205 Conclusion....Pages 206-212 Back Matter....Pages 213-260