ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains the relationships between heritage and geography. It concentrates on modernist depictions of identity in which the primary axis of contestation is defined by nationalism. The book examines the role of heritage in more fragmented postmodern conceptions of the world. It defines by multiple feelings of belonging and an apparent diminution in the importance of identity as bounded by place. The book addresses the evidence for multicultural societies, draws on a number of examples and discusses the potential for dissonance which exists within them. It focuses on the role of heritage in economic development strategies at a variety of scales, concluding with a set of illustrative case studies. The book demonstrates the vibrancy and relevance of the study of heritage to contemporary cultural, political and economic geography.
