Intangible Heritage as a Factor of Cultural Resilience in Rural Areas of Germany

Abstract

Using the example of Germany, this chapter examines how and to which extent the inclusion of regional cultural forms on one of the lists of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) can contribute to the sustainable development and vitalisation of peripheral rural areas. Against this backdrop it discusses the potential of a joint approach between rural development policy and ICH. Following Marlen Meissner, we understand ICH as a cultural policy instrument and incorporated cultural capital in the sense of Bourdieu, but expand this perspective to include a theoretical framework that takes a closer look at the current requirements of rural development policy. As a heuristic for documenting the impact of an ICH application process for a rural region, the text draws on the concept of “cultural resilience”. This brings aspects of resourcefulness, rootedness, and resistance to the fore. In this context, the application process itself, as the empirical examples show, is of great importance.