Protecting cultural heritage as an ambassador for peace

In the 21st Century heritage frequently appears to be regarded by governments primarily as a means of economic regeneration and as a mainstay of the national tourism industry. Its broader values and potential uses are, when accepted at all, usually given far less attention and, on occasion, are actively dismissed. At the same time, there is a general acknowledgement that both tangible and intangible heritage are accepted casualties of armed conflict as victims of so-called 'collateral damage'.Recently, armed conflicts have seen heritage specifically targeted, damaged, and destroyed by belligerents and used as weapons of war against their enemies.This presentation will question whether the simplistic economic importance of heritage. has perhaps blinded governments and society in general to overlook the wider potential of heritage. It will question whether heritage is simply destroyed as collateral damage or whether a more nuanced understanding of how and why heritage is damaged and destroyed during armed conflict might lead to a more structured response for the protection of heritage during conflict. Finally, the presentation will question whether heritage might be actively deployed as an ambassador for peace long before conflict starts.