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Protecting cultural heritage during armed conflict: the Italian contribution to ‘cultural peacekeeping’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2016

Paolo Foradori
Paolo Foradori*
Affiliation:
School of International Studies, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
*
*Email: paolo.foradori@unitn.it
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Abstract

World cultural heritage is under systemic attack on several crisis fronts, most notably in Mesopotamia, where ISIS is practising a deliberate and highly sophisticated strategy of ‘cultural cleansing’. Through its newly established Task Force, Italy is leading the international community’s efforts to strengthen the protection regime by including a cultural component in the mandates of peacekeeping interventions. The Italian contribution distinguishes itself, thanks to its capacities and capabilities, in fulfilling the military, police and cultural tasks of ‘cultural peacekeeping’ and in meeting the needs of the international intervention in the crucial entry and exit phases. Moreover, Italy’s commitment to protecting cultural heritage fits perfectly with the distinctive features of Italy’s international identity and role while at the same time serving the country’s national interests by increasing its standing and visibility in world affairs.

Italian summary

Il patrimonio culturale mondiale è sotto attacco in molte aree di crisi e in particolare in Mesopotamia, dove l’ISIS è impegnato in una strategia deliberata di ‘pulizia culturale’. Con la recente istituzione di una specifica Task Force, l’Italia si pone alla guida degli sforzi della comunità internazionale per rafforzare il regime di protezione culturale, attraverso l’integrazione di una componente culturale nei mandati delle missioni di peacekeeping. Il contributo italiano si contraddistingue per le specifiche competenze e i mezzi a disposizione, potenzialmente in grado di realizzare i complessi compiti di polizia, militari e culturali degli interventi di ‘peacekeeping culturale’. L’impegno dell’Italia a protezione del patrimonio culturale mondiale ben si adatta inoltre alla distintiva identità e al ruolo internazionale del paese, conferendo prestigio e visibilità alla sua politica estera e di sicurezza.

Keywords

UNESCOcultural heritagesecuritypeacekeepinginternational interventionsCarabinieri
Type
Research Article
Information
Modern Italy , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 1 - 17
Copyright
© 2016 Association for the Study of Modern Italy 

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