Concise Introduction to Heritage Studies

Our Elgar Concise Introductions are inspiring and considered. They explain the key principles in business and are expertly written by some of the world’s leading scholars. The aims of the series are two-fold: to pinpoint essential concepts and to offer insights that stimulate critical thinking.

This incisive book elucidates the field of Anglophone heritage studies, outlining its historical development alongside core theoretical debates and research trends. Drawing on her own experiences working as an academic and practitioner in the subject, Laurajane Smith examines how diverse definitions of heritage have influenced international scholarship and preservation practices.

Key Features:

• Documents the emergence of critical heritage studies as a distinct field of inquiry and the implications of this for heritage research and policymaking
• Explores the social, political and environmental consequences of heritage-making, as well as its applications at different scales and in varied contexts
• Highlights the multidisciplinary nature of heritage and its importance for understanding topics including identity, memory, authenticity, affect, place and gender

The Concise Introduction to Heritage Studies is an invaluable resource for students and scholars across a wide range of disciplines, including human geography, tourism, sociology, archeology and anthropology. Its insights into how the past affects the present will also benefit practitioners and policymakers in these fields.

Laurajane Smith, Professor of Heritage and Museum Studies, Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies, the Australian National University, Australia