The Cultural Dimension of Peace Operations: Peacekeeping and Cultural Property

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with the socio-legal connotations of cultural property vis-a-vis peacekeeping. The chapter inquires whether, and how, can peacekeepers (acting on behalf of the international community) protect cultural property. The chapter provides a critical analysis on the way in which the concepts of cultural property and peacekeeping interact at both normative and implementation level. The central question under examination is whether peacekeeping missions are/should be under obligation to protect cultural property. The chapter argues for the need to include cultural property in the mandate of peace operations. The feasibility of such inclusion is preconditioned by the states’ political will in the UN Security Council. The successful integration of the cultural perspective into a peace operation is ultimately dependent on the extent of education, training, understanding, tolerance, cooperation, and coordination between many diverse elements of any mission and, at the same time, and importantly, between the mission and the local population.

Keywords: peacekeeping, cultural property, armed conflict

JEL Classification: K33