The myth that cultural landscapes expanded global heritage recognition
In short: Researchers examining the UNESCO World Heritage List found that the 1992 introduction of 'cultural landscapes' did not truly diversify heritage representation. While often celebrated as a way to recognize non-European sites, the study suggests that European nations continued to dominate the list by prioritizing their own agricultural landscapes over the sacred or indigenous sites of the Global South.
By analyzing the history of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the authors argue that the expansion of heritage categories primarily served the interests of the Global North. European states actively used new nomination slots to list sites like vineyards, while many non-European leaders focused on natural or existing cultural categories. The research highlights that the process was shaped by European ambitions, often leaving the concerns of the Global South unrepresented.
Why it matters: New heritage categories do not automatically fix global imbalances in cultural recognition.
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