"This volume emerges from a ground-breaking conference held in the Republic of Palau on cultural heritage in the Pacific. It includes bold investigations of the role of cultural heritage in identity-making, and the ways in which community engagement informs heritage management practices. This is the first broad and detailed investigation of the unique and irreplaceable cultural heritage of the Pacific from a heritage management perspective. It identifies new trends in research and assesses relationships between archaeologists, heritage managers and local communities. The methods which emerge from these relationships will be critical to the effective management of heritage sites in the 21st century. A wonderful book which emerges from an extraordinary conference. Essential reading for cultural heritage managers, archaeologists and others with an interest in caring for the unique cultural heritage of the Pacific Islands".

Wehali defines itself as the ritual centre of the island of Timor. As a ritual centre, Wehali continues to be the residence of a figure of traditional authority on whom, in the 18th century, the Dutch conferred the title of Kaiser (Keizer) and to whom the Portuguese gave the title of Emperor (Imperador). At one time, Wehali was the centre of a network of tributary states, which both the Dutch and Portuguese regarded as paramount to the political organisation of the island. This book is a study of Wehali in its contemporary setting as it continues to maintain its rituals and traditions. Significantly, Wehali is a ‘Female’ centre and its ‘Great Lord’ is considered to be a ‘Female’ lord. Whereas other Timorese societies are organised along male lines, in Wehali, all land, all property, all houses belong to women. Men are exchanged as husbands in marriage. Wehali is thus considered to be the ‘husband-giver’ to the surrounding realms on the island that look to its inner power as their source of life.

World politics can be viewed as the patterns of cooperation and conflict between groups of people with different cultural backgrounds. Surprisingly, though, for several decades the topics of culture in international relations has been largely ignored. Only recently an increasing interest has (re-)emerged in how world politics is affected by cultures, i.e. by collectively shared perceptions, norms and beliefs. Culture in World Politics contributes to this development by presenting a variety of ways in which the roles of cultures in world politics can be studied. A major aim of the book is to highlight alternative ways of thinking about the effects of culture on international relations, and to stimulate discussion on the relative merit of these various approaches. The book also shows the relevance of cultural studies for understanding two areas often assumed to be free of cultural influences: international violence, and the international political economy. The contributions not only include insightful theoretical discussions, but also show how illuminating empirical analyses can be undertaken with the help of cultural theories.