File(s) under permanent embargo
UNESCO’s project to ‘revive the spirit of Mosul’: Iraqi and Syrian opinion on heritage reconstruction after the Islamic State
journal contribution
posted on 2019-01-01, 00:00 authored by Benjamin IsakhanBenjamin Isakhan, Lynn MeskellFollowing the devastation of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul by the Islamic State (IS), UNESCO launched a project to ‘Revive the Spirit of Mosul’. This article critically reflects on this UNESCO-led project, drawing on 47 interviews with Syrians and Iraqis, as well as documenting the implications of UNESCO’s efforts in earlier (post-)conflict heritage reconstruction projects in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Mali. Specifically, this article focuses on two sites in Mosul, both deliberately destroyed by the IS and both nominated by UNESCO for reconstruction. The data analysed reveal that heritage reconstruction projects, especially in complex (post-)conflict environments such as Iraq, requires ongoing, nuanced and careful engagement with local populations to succeed. Failure to do so leaves both local people and their heritage sites vulnerable to renewed attacks and therefore ultimately undermines UNESCO’s broader mission to foster peace.
History
Journal
International journal of heritage studiesVolume
25Issue
11Pagination
1189 - 1204Publisher
Taylor & FrancisLocation
Abingdon, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1352-7258Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2019, Benjamin Isakhan and Lynn MeskellUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
IraqheritageUNESCOIslamic StatereconstructionMosulArts & HumanitiesSocial SciencesHumanities, MultidisciplinarySocial Sciences, InterdisciplinaryArts & Humanities - Other TopicsSocial Sciences - Other TopicsIslamic State (IS)WORLD HERITAGECULTURAL-HERITAGEDESTRUCTIONCONFLICTPROTECTIONPROPERTYPOLICYISISWAR
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC