It's not all about archaeology

What is it about?

This is a response to an article addressing the issue of archaeology and populism. It is one of several responses; our point is that archaeologists should not equate or dismiss populism as intrinsically right wing. Rather it is useful to remember Stuart Hall's point that the left needs not to dismiss populism but to engage far more actively with it.

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Why is it important?

This short discussion piece is part of ongoing discussions about the use of heritage within rightwing and populist movements. As the authors of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies manifesto (Campbell & Smith 2011), there are aspects of the debate piece by González-Ruibal et al. (above) that we have no trouble agreeing with, but we take issue with other elements. This paper sets up far too many straw people, based on a limited engagement with the archaeological and heritage studies literature. At its heart, and despite the radical rhetoric, Gonzalez-Ruibal et al.’s paper is another defence of archaeological expertise by archaeologists, based on a dubious equation of reactionary politics with communities and the popular.