Introduction

The introduction delves into the concept and practices of heritage participation, scrutinising the impacts of the participatory turn in cultural heritage. Influenced by the participatory turn in governance, the critical turn in heritage studies, and the increased international recognition of the cultural rights of minority communities, participation has grown to an often-repeated umbrella term in the discourses of international heritage institutions, practitioners, and academics alike. In the introductory chapter, the editors of the book map out the varied arenas where participation has entered heritage debates and discuss key opportunities and challenges that are associated with these processes. While pluralisation of heritage narratives, meanings, and practices can contribute to the emergence of societal tensions, we argue that wider participation is the key to unlocking the transformative potential or future-oriented impetus of heritage. As the chapters in this volume exemplify, a holistic understanding of heritage participation that is mindful of diverse political, managerial, and communal modes of participation, as well as both established and emerging forms of heritage participation, can help us understand the ways participation is contributing to negotiations on the societal role of cultural heritage.