Bamyan

Whose Heritage Was It and What Should We Do About It

Bibliographic Data

ID8095882
AuthorsG J Ashworth (corresponding author), Bart J M van der Aa
Year2002
Volume5
Issue5
Pages447-457
Publication date2002-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCurrent Issues in Tourism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-3500 • E-ISSN: 1747-7603
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13683500208667934
OpenAlexW2100047724
LanguageEN
Citations received14

The destruction for ostensibly ideological reasons of the Buddhist statues at Bamyan in Afghanistan by the Taliban (whether or not inspired by Al-Qaeda) raises a number of wider issues. Apart from the problems of minority, dissonant and enclave heritage, there is the question, 'how can relics of the past that are valued in different ways by local, national and international claimants be managed in a way that satisfies all parties?' The idea of world heritage, and its manifestation in international tourism, may conflict with heritage used for local or national purposes. One, if not the most important, actor in this arena, UNESCO, is evaluated on the basis of its goals and efficiency in saving the heritage of mankind in the recent past. The dilemmas inherent in the concept of world heritage and possible solutions for its management are outlined

Aesthetics · Archaeology · Art · Buddhism · Cultural heritage · Cultural heritage management · Environmental ethics · Heritage tourism · Ideology · Industrial heritage · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Tourism · World heritage · Archaeological Research and Protection · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East · History · Law · Philosophy

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