2019/01/01 by Joris D. Kila · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · #Archaeological Research and Protection #Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts #Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography
paper · doi:10.1057/978-1-137-54405-6_30
openalex publication_date 2019/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
This chapter “Iconoclasm and cultural heritage destruction during contemporary armed conflicts” discusses phenomena and problems that focus for a significant part on the role of the military. The central question asked is what the international community is doing to stop or limit abuse of its shared cultural heritage. Important is the recognition of cultural property protection (CPP) as a military force multiplier, denying the ‘enemy’ financial resources gained through looting and selling artifacts, often in cooperation with organized transnational crime, making CPP a global security issue. Addressed is the criminalization of offences against cultural heritage during conflict including illicit traffic, plundering, iconoclasm and connections with identity as well as the criminal act of erasing identities. Case studies discuss concrete proof of IS involvement in the systematical looting and trading of antiquities and cultural crimes and emergency assessments in Libya and Mali. Conclusions and recommendations comprise the incorporation of CPP directives in military operational planning doctrines, multidisciplinary research and international cooperation. The international community should realize that CPP in times of conflict is a complicated multidisciplinary topic with multiple stakeholders. Research, dissemination and implementation preferably based on proactive depoliticizing solutions need more attention, funding and recognition.