Intangible Cultural Heritage and Reconciliation in the Western Balkans An Anthropological perspective Southeast European Studies Series

This book considers the sensitive heritage elements linked to the very issue of the origins of nations. Beliefs, rituals, and traditional knowledge are examples of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), which communities globally regard as the core of their cultural identity. When it is unclear which element of heritage ?belong? to whom, like in the Western Balkans, where majority of heritage elements is shared, ICH disputes exacerbate conflict. Its mishandling is especially acute when minority heritage is excluded from governmental cultural policies.

With a focus on Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, this book has a global thematic scope, theoretical depth, and policy relevance to anthropology and heritage studies scholars, as well as those interested in cultural diversity, human rights, and cultural and educational policies. It will serve as a guide for those who professionally use cultural heritage, or want to start doing so, in the processes of reconciliation, stabilization and development.

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction: Anthropological aims, ethnological means

Part I Approaching heritage after postcultural Anthropology

2 Heritage denialism: Anthropology and critical heritage studies against ICH safeguarding

3 Postultural anthropology: The source of contemporary heritage denialism

Part II Ethnologists as expert-bureaucrats: Lessons from the Western Balkans

4 Beyond anthropology vs. ethnology in the former Yugoslavia

5 Fieldwork: Method and context

6 The ethnic vs. territorial attribution of minority, contested, and shared intangible heritage

7 Professional expertise vs. the politicization of knowledge in ICH arena

8 Heritage disciplines within ICH reconciliation and development framework in the Western Balkans

Part III Ne nuntium necare

Conclusion: Putting anthropology back to heritage

References

Index

Miloš Milenković is a Professor at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Ethnology and Anthropology.