Original scientific paper
Heritage conservation in the context of the European Union
Ivan Cifrić
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Natural and cultural heritage, as the basis of life and identity, present a constant problem which societies face. In reality, the processes of biotic and cultural entropy and homogenisation of cultures are at work and they are constantly challenged by the world movements for the protection of natural and cultural diversity. Heritage is perceived as both, created by nature and man-made, tangible (settlements, buildings, tools) and intangible goods (customs, skills, knowledge), which can be divided further into social (inheritance, community and marriage relations, institutions) and spiritual heritage (values, morality, norms) as collective acquis. It is a dynamic, historical and cumulative category. Heritage belongs to all of us and vice versa. It is an attitude towards past, present and future, including our right to use it, the commitment to protect it and the duty to create for future generations. Furthermore, there is also a concept of global heritage – collective legacy of mankind: natural (e.g. climate) and anthropogenic systems (internet, science, norms), and the results of international politics (peace, stability). This paper accentuates a number of relations: heritage and tradition, heritage and sociocultural identity, heritage and sovereignty, heritage and neighbours. There exist various aspects of heritage conservation: physical, legal (international conventions and domestic legislation), educational and scientific-research aspect. Why has joining the EU raised a question of heritage conservation? Joining the EU will help raise awareness of the importance of heritage, national identity and proactive attitude towards heritage. Croatia has inherited a portion of European heritage. It is assumed that preserving the diversity of heritage of EU Member States will reflect positively onto the conservation of our own national heritage. However, there is a possibility of dispute, because if we ourselves do not protect our heritage, no one else will. It should be protected from temporality and other destructive influence, but also, it should be protected from us.
Keywords
heritage; global heritage; cultural sovereignty; tradition; the EU
Hrčak ID:
135032
URI
Publication date:
17.12.2014.
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