For most governments, settling on a common interpretation of the past is central to nation building. Many of these same governments yearn for global recognition of their countries’ contributions to world history. Yet there is often a tension between these twin goals. Rico, an art historian and preservationist, argues that standard conceptions of what counts as “global heritage” eschew religious definitions of history and identity in favor of a secular cosmopolitanism that prizes natural beauty, defunct civilizations, and tourism. The wealthy petrostate of Qatar has taken a different route, electing to pursue both urban renewal and the showcasing of the country in all its complexity. One of its lavish museums is devoted to Islamic art; another to the history of slavery and modern-day exploitation. In so doing, the country presents itself to the world with a distinctive mix of candor and circumspection that reflects the imperatives of both nation building and the pursuit of global prestige.
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