Dr Bijan Rouhani: List of publications

<p>This paper explores the weaponisation of heritage in a broader scope, going beyond armed conflict. We investigate how cultural heritage’s destruction, preservation, reconstruction, and representation can be manipulated or misused across various political and social arenas, particularly in shaping identities or in the erasure of those belonging to others. By examining multiple cases, our paper aims to challenge the notion that cultural heritage is solely a benign, simple, and romanticised construct, instead presenting it as a complex interplay of social and political dynamics.</p> <br> <p>[Aquest article explora la militarització del patrimoni des d’una perspectiva més àmplia, que va més enllà dels conflictes armats. S’investiga com la destrucció, la conservació, la reconstrucció i la representació del patrimoni cultural es poden manipular o utilitzar indegudament en diversos àmbits polítics i socials, sobretot en la conformació d’identitats o en la supressió de les que pertanyen a altres. Mitjançant l’examen de múltiples casos, el nostre objectiu és qüestionar la noció que el patrimoni cultural és únicament una construcció benigna, simple i romàntica, presentant-lo en canvi com una interacció complexa de dinàmiques socials i polítiques.]</p>

Based on reports from the responsible organizations concerning cultural heritage in Afghanistan, including the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Afghanistan Archaeological Institute, the Aga Khan Cultural Institute, UNESCO, and others, thousands of pieces of ancient artifacts have been looted and stolen from the museums of this country over the years, and have been sold in various markets around the world. Following the fall of the Taliban regime in the 1970s, the presence of foreign forces in the 1980s, and the overwhelming influx of Western values in the form of democracy through media, another aspect of this country's cultural heritage (intangible cultural heritage) has been targeted. This has occurred while numerous international documents related to cultural heritage have been ratified and are currently in force. The research question of this study is how multiple crises have affected Afghanistan's cultural heritage and how optimal management of this heritage can be achieved to preserve national identity and promote sustainable development. The aim of this study is an analytical examination of the crises facing Afghanistan's cultural heritage. This research is classified as applied research based on its objective and was conducted descriptively and survey-wise in terms of research methodology. The findings of the study revealed that cultural heritage management in Afghanistan presents an opportunity to strengthen national identity and sustainable development. Given the existing challenges, the research indicates that weak management, a lack of public and specialized awareness, and tribalism are the main factors threatening Afghanistan's cultural heritage. Effective protection of this heritage requires the strengthening of civil society and nationalism, free from tribalism, with a focus on education and awareness-raising. This is not only vital for preserving the country's cultural identity but also for promoting peace and stability. It is essential for the Afghan government, along with the international community and organizations, to take effective steps towards the protection and management of this heritage.

The world celebrated the 50 years of the World Heritage Convention. With more than 1000 cultural and natural sites, the 1972 World Heritage Convention is the most widely recognized. It has provided a framework for identifying, documenting, protecting, and managing the world's cultural and natural heritage with Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The theme to mark this anniversary is: "The Next 50: World Heritage as a Source of Resilience, Humanity and Innovation". These are the topics that have inspired the World Heritage Centre to develop, together with the Member States in the Arab Region, an online platform that leverages digital technologies to safeguard and promote the UNESCO World Heritage sites and its related intangible heritage, and transmit them to future generations. This paper discusses the current state of digital documentation of cultural heritage and the related projects/initiatives in the Arab States region. It presents the UNESCO Dive into Heritage initiative and its first outcomes. It concludes with lessons learned and future steps for the next phases of the project. First outcomes have revealed the big challenge of 3D data integration and the need to accompany the implementation stages of the project with capacity building.

The UK-based Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (EAMENA) project uses remote sensing techniques to rapidly record and evaluate the status of archaeological and cultural heritage sites in the MENA region. Applying remote sensing methods to the archaeological landscapes of twenty countries, EAMENA is one of the largest documentation projects of its kind. Such a scope raises important ethical questions fundamental to the practice of remote-sensed archaeology, and this paper contributes to this discussion by reflecting on EAMENA’s unique role in this subfield. We present ethical issues and possible solutions related to remote sensing and archaeology, drawing on models developed within the humanitarian aid sector and postcolonial archaeology. In addition, we consider issues of national sovereignty and their relationship to the engagement of local communities. Finally, this paper examines the roles of data openness and open access policies as ethical factors, and how EAMENA has addressed these so far.

Social life and city planning.