To what extent can inter-civilizational differences in approaches towards cultural property be observed?

Abstract

This paper discusses to what extent can inter-civilizational differences in approaches towards cultural property be observed? It regards the work of Professor John Merryman and his Internationalist vs. Nationalist framework and asks if there is room for a bridging paradigm between the two in the form of a civilizational approach. The theory of Samuel P. Huntington is utilised for the analysis of a civilizational theory of world order in relation to cultural property, his divisions of civilizations are used along with his categorisation of “core states”. The paper implements the case study of Palmyra to demonstrate how the preservation, promotion and destruction of cultural heritage sites has heightened the inter-civilizational distinctions between cultural property approaches.