The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Comparative Perspective

Description

This book describes the global legal framework for safeguarding the “Intangible Cultural Heritage” – as defined by the UNESCO Convention in 2003 – and analyses its use in selected countries in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. Each of the contributions has been prepared by high profile experts and strategically addresses countries that are representative for their corresponding area. Our understanding of the term “Cultural Heritage” has changed considerably over the past few decades, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the concept also includes traditions and living expressions that we inherit from our ancestors and pass on to our descendants. UNESCO has recognised and responded to this change of perspective, creating through the 2003 Convention an international instrument for safeguarding the “Intangible Cultural Heritage”, a notion including oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, as well as the knowledge and skills needed to produce traditional crafts. New values, practices and heritages were recognized – from the ancient African rituals to the Mexican Mariachi musical expression to the Brazilian Samba and the Mediterranean Diet – all of which convey strong social and cultural meaning for their community's identity. Intangible Cultural Heritage is a growing, relatively recent field of study and also an emblem of the dialogue between distant populations with different cultures, which is the reason why a comparative approach is the most appropriate basis for conducting an analysis of how the contracting states to the Convention live up to their commitments through national safeguarding measures and enhancement policies or through international cooperation projects. Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. General Remarks (Tullio Scovazzi)....Pages 3-16 Front Matter ....Pages 17-17 The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Brazil (Maria Laura Viveiros de Castro Cavalcanti)....Pages 19-35 The Legal Framework for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Mexico (Francisco Javier López Morales, Edaly Guisell Quiroz Moreno)....Pages 37-52 Front Matter ....Pages 53-53 The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Japan (Toshiyuki Kono)....Pages 55-68 The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Republic of Korea (Jung-eun Park)....Pages 69-83 Front Matter ....Pages 85-85 The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Hani Hayajneh)....Pages 87-115 Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Burkina Faso (Sidi Traore)....Pages 117-133 Front Matter ....Pages 135-135 The Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Cyprus (Antigone Polyniki)....Pages 137-164 The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Spain (Honorio Manuel Velasco Maillo)....Pages 165-185 The Legal Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Italy (Pier Luigi Petrillo, Tullio Scovazzi, Benedetta Ubertazzi)....Pages 187-227 Front Matter ....Pages 229-229 Intangible Cultural Heritage and Comparative Law. Towards a Global Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Pier Luigi Petrillo)....Pages 231-263 Back Matter ....Pages 265-266