Concise Introduction to Heritage Studies

‘Critique, clarity, and constructive concern merge in Smith’s impressively readable account of heritage studies and their real-world implications. Smith’s perspective, grounded in deep social and political engagement, shows how people – scholars, activists, citizens of every stripe – shape the present through performances and contestations of multiple pasts.’ -- Michael Herzfeld, Harvard University, USA

‘Laurajane Smith masterfully synthesises the manifold ways of understanding heritage today. For students and researchers from a wide range of disciplines wondering what the apparent boom in heritage is all about, Smith lays out the myriad potential of the field. She provides a broad survey of Heritage Studies introducing the key issues at stake, the principle faultlines, and the complexities at play without oversimplifying. This book opens doors into this field of study at a time when critical reflection about the deployment of heritage performances and practices to justify actions with material consequences on people’s lives is so crucial.’ -- Dacia Viejo-Rose, University of Cambridge, UK

‘This book comes at a critical moment of political, social and environmental crises in which questions of what heritage does connects everyday and local actions and experiences to global events and transitions. With the bread-and-butter concerns of politics, people and places at its centre, this book gains traction to provide critical insight to combat the seemingly easy solutions of populist rhetoric that would otherwise fill the vacuum. Marking a “coming of age” for heritage studies and with a didactic clarity that characterises Laurajane Smith’s work, this book helps the reader to locate themselves in the field and gain confidence in navigating the expanding scholarly terrain of Critical Heritage Studies. Smith’s unapologetic commitment towards the politics of power and questions of social justice shines through in this exploration of how heritage is mobilised to mediate social and political change.’ -- David C. Harvey, Aarhus University, Denmark

‘Smith’s latest book is a compelling exploration of why heritage studies are vital in navigating the challenges of today’s world. Scholarly yet accessible, this Concise Introduction highlights the field’s dynamism, its diversity of practices and perspectives, and its social relevance, making it essential reading for anyone interested in heritage studies, identity, memory, and cultural meaning.’ -- John Schofield, University of York, UK

‘Laurajane Smith is one of the preeminent scholars in heritage studies, and this book only reinforces her place in the field. It is an all-encompassing survey showing how the discipline is diverse with many fascinating and worthwhile approaches. This book should be a standard read for those seeking a comprehensive overview of our discipline.’ -- Paul Shackel, University of Maryland, USA

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