Whose identity? Valuing the culture built heritage in diverse and tensioned societies

Elkadi, HA

Abstract

The UNESCO declaration on cultural diversity in 2002 has raised more questions than answers.
More recent events around the world have highlighted the immediate need for legislative
actions to protect cultural built heritage in tensioned societies. This paper discusses the
potential global risks that face cultural built heritage. The paper argues that such risks are not
only limited to regions where military operations are taking place but also to nations where
questions of identity and cultural diversity are raised. The paper questioned the reasons and the
impact of the rise of ethno nationalism on the protection of cultural built heritage. The different
discourses of these groups that will lead to destruction of cultural artefacts are also explored. In
order to properly legislate means for the protection of vulnerable cultural built heritage in conflict
areas, the underline value system should be clarified and the values under threat identified.
The paper concludes with a plea to move our understanding and definition of culture from the
previous ‘old’ definition with relation to ‘people’ to a ‘new’ one which is more relevant to context.

Citation

Elkadi, H. (2007). Whose identity? Valuing the culture built heritage in diverse and tensioned societies. İTÜ dergisi A, 4(1), 45-55

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: Jul 31, 2015
• Journal: A|Z ITU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture
• Print ISSN: 1302-8324
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 45-55
• Publisher URL: http://www.az.itu.edu.tr/downloads/papers/vol04-01/pdf/06elkadi-04n1.pdf
• Related Public URLs: http://www.az.itu.edu.tr/index.htm