Globalization and heritage at risk: theories for its governance

Abstract

This paper offers a synthetic analysis of capitalism as a global system which engenders negative effects on cultural heritage. Accordingly, the first aim of the paper is to systematize a wide variety of information on heritage assets which are at risk. As a response to such jeopardizing circumstances for cultural heritage, a second goal of the paper is to suggest governance processes as valuable mechanisms for the protection, preservation and promotion of such assets. The research methodology is based on hermeneutics, an approach that enables the rigorous interpretative analysis of information regarding heritage. The text is organized in four parts: the introductory section discloses the problematic, justification and purposes of the study, and explains the conceptual approach to heritage; the second part presents the methodology that has been applied, and the third part exposes the research findings. Finally, the conclusions synthesize evidence on how capitalistic globalization clearly jeopardises cultural heritage.