Cultural heritage that heals: factoring in cultural heritage discourses in the Syrian peacebuilding process

Reconstructing narratives: The politics of heritage in contemporary Syria

“…We welcome any assistance with reconstruction from those countries that were not part of the aggression on Syria … The countries that offer only conditional assistance or continue to support terrorism, they are neither invited nor welcome to help. (Reuters, 2018) A growing body of research supports the idea that the management of cultural heritage resources can play an important role in peacebuilding and reconstruction in post-conflict contexts (Isakhan and Meskell, 2019;Lostal and Cunliffe, 2016;Meskell, 2018;Munawar, 2018). However, as I argued above, the reconstruction of Aleppo's cultural heritage sites might be seen as a politically motivated process to maintain the Assad regime's dominance.…”

“…A growing body of research supports the idea that the management of cultural heritage resources can play an important role in peacebuilding and reconstruction in post-conflict contexts (Isakhan and Meskell, 2019; Lostal and Cunliffe, 2016; Meskell, 2018; Munawar, 2018). However, as I argued above, the reconstruction of Aleppo’s cultural heritage sites might be seen as a politically motivated process to maintain the Assad regime’s dominance.…”

“…As already noted, several scholars argue that in the aftermath of a conflict, the reconstruction of cultural heritage sites can heal war-damaged societies (Lostal and Cunliffe, 2016; Meskell and Scheermeyer, 2008). Along the same lines, efforts to help communities overcome their war traumas in post-conflict contexts can include processes related to commemorating the conflict’s dark memories in a way that allows the recognition of heritage loss by willfully preserving scars of war (Giblin, 2014; Isakhan and Shahab, 2019; Logan and Reeves, 2008; Winter 2007) or making a new heritage of the conflict (Munawar, 2019).…”

Picking up the pieces: Transitional justice responses to destruction of tangible cultural heritage

“…21 Lostal and Cunliffe, as well as Gottlieb, tentatively suggest cultural destruction could be factored into reparations and truth-seeking mechanisms. 22 The incorporation of cultural destruction can improve TJ praxis by giving full effect to the indivisibility of human rightscivil-political, socio-economic and culturalwhile addressing the hitherto neglected issues of heritage and identity as concepts with a latent potential for both healing and disharmony in post-conflict communities.…”

The Islamic State’s destruction of Yezidi heritage: Responses, resilience and reconstruction after genocide

“…Not surprisingly, a whole body of recent scholarship has sought to analyse and interpret various aspects of the heritage destruction unleashed by the IS. These have included: the failure of state bodies and multinational agencies to effectively respond to, and mitigate against, such destruction (Al Quntar and Daniels, 2016;Brodie, 2015); efforts to interpret the complex religious and ideological doctrine that underpins the virulent iconoclasm of the IS (Harmans¸ah, 2015;Isakhan and Zarandona, 2018); the role of heritage destruction in indoctrinating new recruits and binding them to the IS cause (Campion, 2017;Shahab and Isakhan, 2018); the extent to which the targeting of specific heritage sites formed part of their broader genocidal pogroms against besieged minorities (Bevan, 2016(Bevan, [2006; Isakhan, 2018); the IS attacks on heritage sites as a proxy for their rejection of 'western' imperialism and the vast symbolic nation building campaigns of various dictatorial regimes (de Cesari, 2015); the IS use of social media to present their heritage destruction as dramatic spectacles to local, regional and global audiences (Cunliffe and Curini, 2018;Smith et al, 2016); and the extent to which heritage reconstruction across Syria and Iraq can be utilised as part of a broader post-conflict peacebuilding process (Isakhan and Meskell, 2019;Lostal and Cunliffe, 2016).…”