From Agents to Subjects: Heritage, Power and the Marginalization of Bearer Community

Abstract

This paper explores the complex relationship between heritage, power, and the role of communities in heritage practices in contemporary Vietnam through three case studies: the Worship of the Hùng Kings, the Practices Related to Việt Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms, and Đường Lâm Ancient Village. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD) and theories of heritage politics from below, the paper examines how heritage is not only understood as a discourse but also as a space for power negotiation between the state and communities. Combining fieldwork and discourse analysis, the study reveals that despite official rhetoric positioning communities as “heritage bearers,” they are often excluded from decision-making processes and relegated to symbolic or performative roles. The paper argues for a reconfiguration of heritage governance towards a co-creative model that prioritizes dialogue and equitable power-sharing among stakeholders.