Description
While scholars have studied gifting in international systems, such as Marcel Mauss's relational approach emphasizing reciprocity (Benabdallah, 2022) and gifting as a form of status signaling (Kustermans, 2019), these studies remain largely disconnected from analyses of transnational cultural heritage. My research seeks to bridge this gap by using gift theory as a lens to examine how cultural heritage—whether literal or symbolic—is exchanged to create identities and set agendas in the international sphere. Gift theory offers a robust framework for this study. First, while gifting is often perceived as an interpersonal act, its principles—particularly in diplomatic exchanges—translate effectively to the international context, where such exchanges are frequently framed as personal interactions between leaders. Second, the 'gifting' of expertise, as seen in state-led institutional interventions like ASI’s restoration projects, warrants deeper evaluation as a unique form of exchange.
Building on this theoretical foundation, I aim to explore how India employs heritage-related exchanges to engage with West Asia and Southeast Asia. My case studies will include diplomatic gifts to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as the ASI’s restoration projects in Cambodia and Thailand. Through these empirical cases, I intend to expand the understanding of culture in diplomacy beyond the confines of traditional cultural diplomacy, situating these practices firmly within the broader political, anthropological, and sociological literature on gifting and exchange.
