A comparison of Bukhara, Gjirokastër, Malacca and Pingyao used 60 interviews, 48 policy documents and GIS, finding higher vitality under participatory or coordinated governance.
Key findings
- Development pressure was not the sole predictor. Participatory or coordinated cities such as Gjirokastër and Pingyao had higher vitality under moderate pressure, while Malacca illustrated commercialization risk.
Why this matters globally
The study reframes intangible heritage from a preserved object to a spatial, governance-mediated community process.
Thai researcher contribution
A Silpakorn University-affiliated researcher contributed to a cross-regional historic-city framework.
Limitations to consider
Four cities differ institutionally and in data. Normalization may flatten local meaning, interview distribution is unclear, and the comparison is cross-sectional.