CHAC CONCEPT

Facing a new situation

Culturally important sites and objects have always played a role in armed conflicts. Yet the role of cultural heritage in the 21st century conflicts differ profoundly from previous times.

The recent rise of cultural heritage to an international security issue stands on a number of mutually reinforcing ‘modern’ developments, including: 

• a proliferation of international and national norms, laws and institutions related to cultural heritage.

• a rapidly growing worldwide focus on cultural heritage and identity.

• the rise of identity politics as a driver of armed conflict.

• the crisis of liberalism and the turn to affective and symbolic organisations of geopolitics.

• the rise of transnational security communities.

• the urbanisation of warfare.

• the rise of hybrid warfare.

• the rise of global social media.

• the maturing of a transnational market for illicit antiquities, enabling armed groups and terrorists to make an income out of looting and trafficking antiquities.

Altogether, the challenges related to cultural heritage and armed conflicts have grown increasingly complex, and they indicate a new geopolitical organisation of peoples and territories.

Odds on...

...the next larger terrorist attack will target a place that holds significant cultural value and will be planned as a media stunt.

...ongoing and future armed conflicts and territorial disputs conflicts will involve issues related to places of significant cultural value.

…cultural heritage will continue to pose political, strategic and operational challenges to military operations.

Managing the challenges

The new situation calls for interdiciplinary analysis and cross-sectorial and cross-functional responses.

Key challenges include:

• Different administrative and political cultures in relevant state authorities, including ministries of justice, defense, and culture.

• Different professional cultures in the relevant sectors, including defense, culture, and justice sectors.

• Difficulties with adopting cross-functional approaches across operational branches and functions.

• Difficulties with aligning and establishing cooperation between state and non-state actors, including subject matter experts.

• A general lack of accurate pictures of the challenges.

'The unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, and the looting and smuggling of cultural property in the event of armed conflicts, notably by terrorist groups, and the attempt to deny historical roots and cultural diversity in this context can fuel and exacerbate conflict and hamper post-conflict national reconciliation, thereby undermining the security, stability, governance, social, economic and cultural development of affected States.'

United Nations Security Council, Resolution 2347 (2017)