THE IMPLEMENTATION OF U.S. FOREIGN AID ON CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION IN CAMBODIA DURING OBAMA’S ADMINISTRATION (2003-2013)

Abstract

The issue of cultural heritage looting, and international trade of arts and antiquities are inevitable to be tackled down as the global priority concern. The necessity of every developing country to maintain its cultural heritage has brought a concept of cultural diplomacy where economy, environment, and social aspects could evolve harmoniously. U.S. Government has brought Foreign Aid concept from developed to developing countries. In Cambodia, U.S. Government works with Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts which is expected able to implement its project align with cultural diplomacy vision of both countries particularly in preservation of cultural heritage. This study is to analyze the strategic implementation of U.S. Government program in Cambodia. Began with the cooperation background which explaining international relations concept, the study carries the scenario how did U.S. Government could preserve the cultural heritage in Cambodia. Deriving from foreign aid concept of international relations, the study specifically holds the analysis based on the legal agreement, policies in this cooperation and provides the correlation to what U.S. Government has implemented. The study takes from 2003 until 2013 as the timeframe, when there are several bilateral negotiations held and influence the cooperation progress. Thus, this research is descriptive and analytical research which applies qualitative approach through study from some bilateral U.S.-Cambodia development agreements, and other documents from U.S. Government and Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.