The cultural heritage of Siam is exceptionally rich and very distinctive. As everywhere, such heritage is under threat û from the pace of change, from tourism, from mismanagement, and from neglect. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the value of Siam's heritage and the need to protect it. This is the first book to examine the issues and challenges. The first part looks back, tracking the change from a traditional approach of "renovation" to the modern concept of conservation, reviewing the roles of pioneers of heritage protection, and tracing the origins of today's problems. The second part presents contemporary case studies on the issues facing different types of heritage, ranging from monuments to intangible heritage, and the special cases of atrocity and transboundary heritage. Several contributions examine controversies over conservation in central Bangkok. The final section brings in international comparisons, including the evolution of the World Heritage system, and developments in Penang and Yangon.

The contributors include academics, activists, and officials. The collection illustrates the complexity of the issues involved, and the passions they raise. As Piriya Krairiksh asks, "So will there be a future for heritage protection in Thailand?" Book jacket.