Cultural Heritage and Development in Fragile Contexts

Learning from the Interventions of International Cooperation in Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries
1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-3-031-54818-5
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buch, Englisch, 250 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 499 g

Reihe: Research for Development

This open access book presents the cooperation strategies for safeguarding cultural heritage in nations grappling with diverse forms of fragility. By juxtaposing pertinent case studies and conducting a critical analysis of challenges and opportunities, the text delves into approaches aimed at preserving cultural heritage as a catalyst for regional socioeconomic development and community empowerment. The geographical focus is primarily on the Middle East, with a detailed examination of the World Heritage Site of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, following the upheaval of the Afghan government in August 2021.
Structured into an introduction and four main sections, the book dedicates its initial segments to the compelling case study of Bamiyan. The first section offers a comprehensive overview of cultural heritage protection initiatives in the region since the UNESCO designation of the Bamiyan Valley as a World Heritage Site in 2003. Examining the accomplishments of international cooperation pre-Taliban rule, it underscores critical issues arising in the new political landscape.
The second section delves into the intricate connections between heritage preservation and policies addressing exponential urban and demographic growth in Bamiyan and other Afghan cities. Authored by the Afghanistan research team of Florence University, contributors draw from the 2018 "Bamiyan Strategic Masterplan," exploring the intersection of heritage conservation with the social and cultural dimensions of the local community, grounded in data collected just before the Taliban takeover.
The book's third part presents a comparative analysis of methodologies employed for cultural heritage preservation in the Middle East by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, UNESCO, and selected international NGOs. Providing insights into the relationships between cultural heritage protection, development dynamics, and the alleviation of social and economic fragilities, these contributions underscore the importance of sustainability.
Concluding with a thoughtful synthesis in the fourth section, the book offers a comprehensive report on key research findings and operational approaches, presenting a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between cultural heritage, development, and fragility in the Middle East.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Abenante, Paola

Loda, Mirella

Fachgebiete

• Geowissenschaften Geographie | Raumplanung Geographie: Allgemeines, Karten & Atlanten
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft | Kulturwissenschaften Museumskunde, Materielle Kultur, Erinnerungskultur
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Achievements and Challenges in the Protection of the World Heritage Site of Bamiyan.- Cultural Heritage and Urban development.- International cooperation in the field of Cultural Heritage.- Suggestions for field work.

Über Autor(innen)

Mirella Lorella Loda is responsible for the LaGeS-Laboratory for Social Geography at Florence University (www.lages.eu). She is founder director of the Master degree in Geography, Spatial Management, Heritage for International Cooperation at Florence University. She is also member of the UNESCO Expert Working Group for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Landscape and Archeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley World Heritage Property. She is responsible of an ongoing cooperation project for upgrading the urban quality of informal settlements in Bmiyan.

Paola Abenante works as technical expert on culture and development at the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Office III Economic Opportunities and Development (Cultura e sviluppo - AICS). Ph.D., in Cultural Anthropology, she has conducted research on the topics of cultural policies, migration, religions and gender in the Middle East, and is now subject expert and teaching assistant in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’.