Possibilites of Participation: Inclusive management strategies and cultural World Heritage in Turkey

This research focuses on participatory management and explores how issues with implementation manifest themselves in an environment outside of the Western democratic context within which they are formed. It is argued here that although UNESCO is attempting to be inclusive of a variety of cultures, it still operates from a Eurocentric perspective and this creates unrealistic expectations of nation states that have a different cultural and institutional construction. The archaeological site of Nemrud Daǧ, located in southeastern Turkey, was chosen as a case study to illustrate the arguments made in this paper. This thesis could be interpreted as an in-depth stakeholder analysis for the site, highlighting problematic areas between stakeholders and the social, political and economic context which create them. The emphasis here is on the context that creates significance as opposed to the significance itself. This is because it is these factors that dictate significance and also create...Show moreThis research focuses on participatory management and explores how issues with implementation manifest themselves in an environment outside of the Western democratic context within which they are formed. It is argued here that although UNESCO is attempting to be inclusive of a variety of cultures, it still operates from a Eurocentric perspective and this creates unrealistic expectations of nation states that have a different cultural and institutional construction. The archaeological site of Nemrud Daǧ, located in southeastern Turkey, was chosen as a case study to illustrate the arguments made in this paper. This thesis could be interpreted as an in-depth stakeholder analysis for the site, highlighting problematic areas between stakeholders and the social, political and economic context which create them. The emphasis here is on the context that creates significance as opposed to the significance itself. This is because it is these factors that dictate significance and also create obstacles with participation. The Turkish Republic is not in the same position as Western Europe, yet it has a long history of aspiring to be. This is what makes the position of the country and its attitudes towards heritage so fascinating.Show less

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Possibilites of Participation: Inclusive management strategies and cultural World Heritage in Turkey