@article{93367,
  keywords = {Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management, Geography, Planning and Development, Museology, Cultural Studies, History, Conservation},
  author = {Wang S},
  title = {A social approach to preserve difficult heritage under neoliberalism – a leprosy settlement in Taiwan and beyond},
  abstract = {Leprosy settlements have never been a priority in historic preservation due to their assumed lesser architectural value and marginalized historical significance in nation-building. Furthermore, they are considered ‘difficult heritage’ for their history of pain and shame. Recent external and internal factors have prompted significant opportunities for these settlements. However, either preserving or demolishing a leprosarium is a sensitive decision that is complicated by the influence of neoliberalism with its emphasis on a market oriented economy. The demolition of Losheng Sanatorium in Taiwan and the questionable conduct shown to its residents spurred a call for human rights that culminated in dramatic demonstrations led by youth activists and leprosy-affected residents. In this paper, I present the case of Losheng Sanatorium to illustrate three points: how difficult heritage can work as a catalyst to agitate social movements when national public projects are in conflict with historic preservation, how the bottom-up social approach to historic preservation of leprosy settlements includes both a people’s history and the physical environment, and how the preservation dilemma shared between Losheng Sanatorium and Sungai Buloh Leprosarium in Malaysia facilitated a transnational collaboration.},
  year = {2019},
  journal = {International Journal of Heritage Studies},
  pages = {1-15},
  publisher = {Informa UK Limited},
  issn = {1352-7258, 1470-3610},
  doi = {10.1080/13527258.2019.1644528},
  language = {eng},
}