The Preservation of Art and Culture in Times of War

In war, belligerents sometimes intentionally destroy treasured artifacts of their adversary's culture or plunder those artifacts to fund their own war effort. Members of a society sometimes destroy elements of their own cultural heritage as symbols of values or historical practices they repudiate. The essays in this superb collection carefully examine the full range of moral, legal, and evaluative issues raised by the meanings, value, and vulnerability of cultural artifacts - issues that have hitherto been unjustifiably neglected by those of us who have written about the morality of war. * Jeff McMahan, Sekyra and White's Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford, author of Killing in War *
The destruction of cultural heritage amidst violence and atrocities is not new, but the post- Cold War era has delivered not only death and displacement but cultural wastelands as well. These essays provide invaluable insights for analysts and practitioners to understand what is happening and what can be done about it. * Thomas G. Weiss, Presidential Professor of Political Science, City University of New York Graduate Center *
This volume is a timely, truly indispensable contribution to its field. Thoughtful and wide ranging, the essays constitute a thoughtful exploration of the high stakes of cultural heritage and preservation, now and for generations to come. * Julian Siggers, President and CEO, The Field Museum *
During the last two decades, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria have impacted every archaeologist, museum curator, and expert in cultural property. This book is the first to synthesize the legal and cultural issues with which we've dealt and to offer strategies for cultural property protection in the future. * C. Brian Rose, James B. Pritchard Professor of Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania *
A vital contribution to the emerging intersection of heritage, security and international law, this volume is highly relevant to the increasing level of conflict surrounding cultural heritage at home and abroad. This impressive interdisciplinary set of contributions from leading scholars tackles the difficult moral, legal and political issues and the array of actors involved, from international organizations and state authorities to non-state actors. A timely and ethical intervention. * Lynn Meskell, Professor of Anthropology, Penn Museum *