Conflict resolution between host communities and heritage authorities: The application of Selfish Gene Theory in Heritage

Shams Imon, Sharif and Wong, Cora Un In (2018) Conflict resolution between host communities and heritage authorities: The application of Selfish Gene Theory in Heritage. In: ICOMOS 19th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium "Heritage and Democracy", 13-14th December 2017, New Delhi, India. [Conference or Workshop Item]

Preview

PDF 12._ICOA_1473_Imon_SM.pdf Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike. Download (410kB) | Preview

Abstract (in English)

Community participation has long been at the forefront of the sustainable development agenda. However, conflicts between communities and authorities over heritage conservation decisions have become a recurring heritage issue in recent decades. A major point of contention is the impact of proposed heritage projects on communities. Numerous case studies have shown that communities generally remain indifferent to heritage projects; but when they do react, they react at a very late stage, often taking drastic actions such as street protests or lawsuits, even when these projects are announced and public consultations are conducted in advance. Such indifference of communities towards heritage conservation negates the important tenet of community stewardship of heritage and allows the authorities to pursue a top-down heritage conservation approach. This paper uses Dawkin’s Selfish Gene theory – an influential theory originating from the field of evolution and biology that postulates that all human actions are to reduce organismal altruism in order to optimise self-preservation – as a framework to explain why, generally, communities remain indifferent towards heritage conservation but in certain situations show a strong reaction to it. This theory is used in the field of economics to explain the process of decision making and the purpose of adaptation. However, this paper is the first attempt to use this theory in a heritage field. Two high profile urban heritage cases – one in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the other in Macao, China – are studied by adopting mixed-method research, including interviews and questionnaires, to understand the factors that influence communities’ reactions to heritage projects. By comparing and contrasting the two cases from very different socio-economic and political contexts, the paper hopes to shed light on how early engagement of the public in a conservation project can be engendered and conflicts between communities and authorities avoided.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Authors:	Authors Email Shams Imon, Sharif UNSPECIFIED Wong, Cora Un In UNSPECIFIED
Languages:	English
Keywords:	conflict resolution; public engagement; decision-making; community participation; sutainable development; heritage conservation; indiference; management; case studies; Bangladesh; China; social and economic aspects; social aspects; theory of conservation; historic quarters; urban areas; conservation projects; Public awareness
Subjects:	D.URBANISM > 02. Urban planning D.URBANISM > 05. Legislation E.CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 07. Management E.CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 09. Social and economic aspects of conservation L.PRESENTATION AND TRANSMISSION OF HERITAGE > 04. Public awareness
Name of monument, town, site, museum:	Dhaka, Bangladesh; Macao, China
National Committee:	ICOMOS International
ICOMOS Special Collection:	Scientific Symposium (ICOMOS General Assemblies)
ICOMOS Special Collection Volume:	19th General Assembly, New Delhi, 2017
Depositing User:	intern icomos
Date Deposited:	11 Dec 2018 13:06
Last Modified:	13 Dec 2018 14:43
References:	Ashworth, G. J., & van der Aa, B. J. M. (2002). Bamyan: Whose Heritage Was It and What Should We Do About It? Current Issues in Tourism, 5(5), 447-457. doi:10.1080/13683500208667934 Burt, A., & Trivers, R. (2006). Genes in Conflict. Cambridge: Bdlknap Press. Daly, M. (1980). Contentious Genes: A Commentary on The Selfish Gene By Richard Dawkins. Journal of Social Biology Structure, 3, 77-81. Darwin, C. R. (1859). On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. London: John Murray. Dawkins, R. (1976). The Selfish Gene. New York: Oxford University Press. Dian, A. M., & Abdullah, N. C. (2013). Public Participation in Heritage Sites Conversation in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 101, 248-255. Imon, S. S. (2016). Public Participation and Sustainable Urban Conservation. Context: Built, Living and Natural, 12, 21-30. Nyaupane, G. P. (2009). Heritage complexity and tourism: the case of Lumbini, Nepal. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 4(2), 157-172. doi:10.1080/17438730802429181 Tunbridge, J. E. (1984). Whose heritage to conserve? Cross-cultural reflections on political dominance and urban heritage conservation. Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien, 28(2), 171-180. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.1984.tb00783.x Wong, C. U. I. (2014). The Preservation of Macau's Intangible Heritage: The Case of Patua. Tourism, Culture and Communication, 14, 91-102. Yung, E. H. K., & Chan, E. H. W. (2011). Problem Issues of Public Participation in Built-Heritage Conversation: Two Controversial Cases in Hong Kong. Habitat International, 35(3), 457-466.
URI:	https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/1985

Actions (login required)

View Item

Metadata

• HTML Citation
• ASCII Citation
• Full
• OpenURL ContextObject
• EndNote
• BibTeX
• MODS
• MPEG-21 DIDL
• EP3 XML
• Dublin Core
• Reference Manager
• Eprints Application Profile
• Simple Metadata
• Refer
• METS

Downloads