Heritage practices often lead to social exclusion as such practices can favor certain values
over others. In some cases exclusion from a society's symbolic landscape can spark controversy
or rouse emotion so much so that they result in cultural contestation. Examples of this abound
but few studies explicitly analyze the role of government in these instances. In this volume
scholars from a variety of academic backgrounds examine the various and often conflicting roles
governments play in these processes-and governments do play a role. They act as authors and
authorizers of the symbolic landscape from which societal groups may feel excluded. Yet they
also often attempt to bring parties together and play a mitigating role.
