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State and centres of power, including non-state and semi-state organisations and institutions determine through their actions and trajectories how the past is used today. Heritage, or more specifically uses of the past, including interpretations of history, are closely connected to the actions of groups and political actors. In conflict and post-conflict contexts, heritage becomes an indispensable resource for political groups who attempt to govern, and in some cases, exert influence on geographies and populations with a view to influencing state-building and political trajectories. This module will explore the connections between politics, including of organised political groups, and the uses of heritage and how in turn that affects public history. Specifically, it will examine the ways in which heritage is exploited, appropriated, transformed and sometimes destroyed in contexts of political contestation and competition for legitimacy and resources. The module will examine the impact of these dynamics on public history. A key focus of this module will be to critically examine the nature of evolving political systems and configurations of power and the impact politics has on heritage, history and people. Guest lecturers will be invited to discuss their work. Examples and case-studies will include those from US, Europe, Africa and Asia. This is a research-led, case study-based module, built around ongoing research in the Department of History of heritage-making in countries that have experienced recent conflict and ongoing political contestation.