Cultural Heritage and Human Rights [Paperback]

Is there a universal right to the free expression and preservation of cultural heritage, and if so, where is that right articulated and how can it be protected? No corner of todays world has escaped the effects of globalization  for better or worse. This volume addresses a deeply political aspect of heritage preservation and management as it relates to human rights.

In todays world, there seems to be no corner of the world that has not been affected by globalization  for good and for bad. While the world becomes more hegemonized socially and culturally, local communities are fighting to preserve their way of life as part of their heritage. Travel and cultural institutions use this uniqueness to promote travel and tourism; and while this brings in revenue and exposure, cultural heritage sites that were preserved by virtue of their isolation are now being severely damaged and even destroyed. At the same time, there is a growing awareness that while this unique heritage is used to define a community, society or nation, it also can be a basis for conflict.

The volume addresses a deeply political aspect of heritage preservation and management as it relates to human rights. Social and community advocates assert that heritage is necessary for the articulation and preservation of cultural identity. The display of heritage monuments and performance can be a strategy for asserting minority identity in the face of majority pressure  as well as a tool for resistance and the expression of difference.

Conversely, the erasure of cultural expressionssuch as buildings, monuments, language, religion, and social practicesis a powerful tool in warfare and political regulation. In the assault on human lives and political autonomy, the cultural history and values of a community are also attacked, destroying not only individuals but the very fabric of society.