| This study seeks to analyze the causes and consequences of cultural heritage destruction during times of peace. Its purpose is to bring attention to causes of cultural heritage destruction that might be less evident but are nonetheless as destructive as violent conflicts.;I will attempt to illustrate the relevance of this research by considering the cases of three countries affected by cultural heritage destruction during peace: Afghanistan, Libya, and Egypt. These countries have been selected because of their similar socio-political history and their recent involvement in conflicts that led to the destruction of a portion of their heritage. These common characteristics facilitate the analysis by eliminating variables that might be created by cultural discrepancies, historic differences and the war/peace context. The presence of both destruction during war and destruction during peace illustrates the similarities and differences of the two phenomena.;In order to investigate the causes leading to destruction of heritage during peaceful times, I will consider the role played by governments in setting patterns of selective preservation and the way in which this process has come to affect the local’s perception of cultural identity. Furthermore, I will look at the role of local populations, governments and international organization in guaranteeing the preservation of cultural heritage. Finally, I will recommend the implementation of programs fostering the preservation of a comprehensive cultural patrimony that is truly representative of each nation’s cultural identity. |
