Det förflutna engagerar : En studie om vilka kulturarvsvärden som förknippas med Kulturreservatet Äskhults by

This paper concerns in which ways people from local communities’ value cultural heritage sites in their region and how they perceive their possibility to be an active part in its management. There have over the last decade been a number of performed studies showing that civic participation in the governing of heritage sites is to be sought for, simultaneously being essential when it comes to the benefits that may be achieved. There is, however, a criticism towards the managers of these cultural heritage sites that they fail to consider the local community, and consequently losing peoples trust. Identifying that field as an area that requires further studies, this case study aim to examine how people from the local community values the cultural heritage site Äskhults by and in which manner they feel able to participate in its management. Interviews is the method this study is based upon, where i have conducted eight separate interviews which has been structured around predetermined questions. In this particular study the results show that a historical value is frequently referred to by the locals, and is what most of them treasured about the heritage site. It also became clear that the respondents highly valued their communication with the operators involved, however, the respondents impression on whether they actually could influence the decisions and governing of the cultural heritage site was less distinct and left some to be desired