Introduction – Heritage, State, and Politics

While the one-party state in Laos is nearly fifty years old, how is it possible for people to still revere the former Lao royal family? What does this mean for understandings of political legitimacy, heritage, and national identity in contemporary Laos? This chapter covers critical points of Herzfeld’s cultural intimacy model and shows that the Lao political system as it is today has become part of the fabric of Lao culture and society. The context of Luang Prabang, the former royal capital, is also introduced, as well as the justification for choosing Luang Prabang as an excellent place to consider how narratives of the past, present, and imagined futures intersect.