Indigenous heritage in diplomacy: repositioning Taiwan in the Austronesian network and its cultural implications

Abstract

PurposeThis paper illustrates how Taiwan has tried to mobilize its prehistory Austronesian linguistic heritage and indigenous cultural memories to reposition itself in the Asia-Pacific. It examines how the attempt has gradually evolved into cross-border exchange and partnership based on the interconnectivity across the Pacific on different levels.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on policy review of the Taiwan government's growing focus on indigenous culture in strategizing diplomacy and cultural policy from 2000 through 2021 and the researcher's participant observation in expert cultural heritage meetings (2018–2021). It is also complemented by semi-structured interviews with both selected state actors and civil actors.FindingsThe past connection among indigenous communities in Taiwan and the Austronesian peoples contributes to building up new cultural circuits across-borders based upon shared indigenous heritage and demonstrates the extraterritorial role of heritage, which can be the potential base for developing diplomacy.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited in not directly engaging with actors in the Pacific given limited time, budget and mobility under the coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic. The author would like to follow on that in her future research.Originality/valueThe paper sheds light on the uneasy relationship between indigenous heritage making and nation building and its cultural implications. This study demonstrates that the state framework of heritage is not necessarily appropriate to deal with these complicated historical matters, especially when the notion of heritage per se is not decolonised in a settler state.

Co-creating the values of Indigenous museums in Taiwan

“…However, there are significant obstacles to achieving mutual respect and empowering participation due to unequal power dynamics, nationalism, and bureaucratic systems (Huang, 2021;Lu, 2018;Wang, 2019). The potential benefits of participation inspire museums and communities to collaborate, but challenges arise due to differing agendas, political factors, power dynamics, and individual positions, making the process unpredictable.…”

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“…However, there are significant obstacles to achieving mutual respect and empowering participation due to unequal power dynamics, nationalism, and bureaucratic systems (Huang, 2021;Lu, 2018;Wang, 2019). The potential benefits of participation inspire museums and communities to collaborate, but challenges arise due to differing agendas, political factors, power dynamics, and individual positions, making the process unpredictable.…”