Cultural Heritage, Ethics, and the Military

Description

The world reacted with horror to the images of the looting of the National Museum in Iraq in 2003 - closely followed by other museums and then, largely unchecked, or archaeological sites across the country. This outcome had been predicted by many archaeologists, with some offering to work directly with the military to identify museums and sites to be avoided and protected. However, this work has since been heavily criticised by others working in the field, who claim that such collaboration lended a legitimacy to the invasion. It has therefore served to focus on the broader issue of whether archaeologists and other cultural heritage experts should ever work with the military, and, if so, under what guidelines and strictures. The essays in this book, drawn from a series of international conferences and seminars on the debate, provide an historical background to the ethical issues facing cultural heritage experts, and place them in a wider context. How do medical and religious experts justify their close working relationships with the military? Is all contact with those engaged in conflict wrong? Does working with the military really constitute tacit agreement with military and political goals, or can it be seen as contributing to the winning of a peace rather than success in war? Are guidelines required to help define roles and responsibilities? And can conflict situations be seen as simply an extension of protecting cultural property on military training bases? The book opens and addresses these and other questions as matters of crucial debate. Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments List of abbreviations Introduction: The Ethical Challenges for Cultural Heritage Experts Working with the Military 1 Still in the Aftermath of Waterloo: A Brief History of Decisions about Restitution 2 Physicians at War: Lessons for Archaeologists? 3 Christian Responsibility and the Preservation of Civilisation in Wartime: George Bell and the Fate of Germany in World War II 4 Responding to Culture in Conflict 5 How Academia and the Military can Work Together 6 Archaeologist under Pressure: Neutral or Cooperative in Wartime 7 Ancient Artefacts and Modern Conflict: A Case Study of Looting and Instability in Iraq 8 Whose Heritage? Archaeology, Heritage and the Military 9 Military Archaeology in the US: A Complex Ethical Decision 10 Akwesasne – Where the Partridges Drum to Fort Drum: Consultation with Native Communities, an Evolving Process 11 Heritage Resources and Armed Conflicts: An African Perspective 12 Human Shields: Social Scientists on Point in Modern Asymmetrical Conflicts 13 Politicians: Assassins of Lebanese Heritage? Archaeology in Lebanon in Times of Armed Conflict 14 Relations between Archaeologists and the Military in the Case of Iraq: Foreword Relations between Archaeologists and the Military in the Case of Iraq Response to ‘Relations between Archaeologists and the Military in the Case of Iraq’ Response to ‘Relations between Archaeologists and the Military in the Case of Iraq’ Response to ‘Relations between Archaeologists and the Military in the Case of Iraq’ Response to ‘Relations between Archaeologists and the Military in the Case of Iraq’ Relations between Archaeologists and the Military in the Case of Iraq – Reply to Price, Rowlands, Rush and Teijgeler List of Contributors Index