This article presents a critical analysis of the actions carried out by UNESCO to safeguard what is considered to be 'intangible cultural heritage of humanity'. These actions have been implemented under the aegis of its international convention adopted in 2003: the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. However, the principles laid down in this document and the objectives sought are somewhat hazy after 15 years of their application.We have examined the effectiveness of UNESCO's policies and management by way of a qualitative and quantitative study of the functioning of the Convention's management bodies (the General Assembly and the Intergovernmental Committee) and the intangible heritage inscribed on the Lists (number and distribution by lists, years, countries and economic and demographic weight). The main focus of our analysis is to assess the democratic functioning of the Convention and the universality of the intangible heritage inscribed by UNESCO.

La obra aborda a través de un estudio de caso antropológico la Semana Santa de Huelva. Bajo un punto de vista diacrónico, el autor nos introduce de manera apasionante en las variadas y distintas significaciones e interpretaciones de la fiesta, ofreciéndonos una visión holística y novedosa de la misma. Resulta relevante señalar el carácter (g-)local del estudio, que se circunscribe a la ciudad de Huelva. Esta acción no es baladí, debido al conocimiento del autor del ritual y de los grupos sociales estudiados, puesto que pertenece a la comunidad que lo celebra, siendo un profundo conocedor de los aspectos culturales y simbólicos que lo conforman.