ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the traditional discourse on the historical development of conceptions of heritage by introducing other voices, including those of new and established writers, some from outside the field. It considers some key ideas relating to a notion that is as controversial as it is fluid and complex. The book explores the links between often complex and sometimes contested perceptions of heritage and how the intersect with ideas about nationhood and identity, in particular, the multi-layered identities created by migration and transnationalism. It looks at how heritage is constructed and is used as an expression of national or cultural identity, or in throwing off the legacy of colonialism and the forging of new national identities. The book focuses on the ways in which heritage professionals have sought to enhance community involvement and experiment with models of practice which centralise community interpretations.
