Heritage and nationalism : an unbreachable couple?

This paper examines the ties between cultural heritage and nationalism. It offers an historical account of such relationships and presents examples from recent times. Particular attention is paid to the role that antiquity has played and continues to play in the construction of cultural nationalisms, some of which have been far from benign. The recent conflict between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple is seen to be particularly illustrative in this regard.