In complex urban dynamics, the theoretical understanding of heritage values, the international guidelines, and the national legal systems are almost always influenced by urban realpolitik1. During the planning process, both the negotiated values and the involved actors (professionals, organisations, and civil society) can be influenced by powerful stakeholders. Lack of interdisciplinary communication can be added to the mentioned issue. In fact, there is usually a gap between what is targeted and agreed upon formally and what actually happens on the ground. Of course, the width of this gap depends on political and economic circumstances.
In this regard, it is the responsibility of academics to identify and explain the relationship between policy-practice gap in heritage conservation and local power dynamics. The chapters of this proposed book, written by local scholars will reflect on the disciplinary and socio-political aspects that tend to be game-changing in conservation procedures.
Furthermore, Conservation scholarship calls for case studies that problematise universal conservation principles in local planning circumstances, particularly in countries from which modern conservation has not originated2. In order to contribute to this issue, this book narrows its focus to such countries in South and West Asia.
The chapters will present case studies of conservation projects, legal processes of heritage protection, and heritage activism stories that illustrate the realpolitik of doing conservation in complex urban situations.
South and West Asian case studies at the scale of monuments, urban areas or historic landscapes are welcomed. The contributions should address policy-practice gaps in conservation as a result of;
- complex urban socioeconomic and natural dynamics,
- the pressure of political and economic instability,
- the presence/absence of a powerful civil society;
- incompatible or rigid legal and institutional structures;
- rigid disciplinary presumptions.
Instructions for Authors
- Prior to submitting the full-text contribution, please send us an extended abstract featuring the key themes of the proposed chapter. The extended abstract should contain a working title, the authors’ name(s) and affiliation(s), the abstract, 4 keywords, and 2-3 main references (in APA citation format). Please send the abstract in a single Word document containing 600 to 700 words.
- The full-text chapter shall contain 5000-9000 words including the abstract and references.
- The chapter may include up to 3 pictures and up to 2 maps/graphs (more detailed instructions will be given to the authors upon the acceptance of their abstracts).
- The chapter contributions will go through a double-blind peer-review process.
- The book language is English.
Publisher
The book will be published with Birkhäuser (De Gruyter) in the book series of the DFG-Research Training Group 1913 “Cultural and Technological Significance of Historic Buildings” (https://www.degruyter.com/serial/ktwhb-b/html).
For information about abstracting and indexing see
https://www.degruyter.com/publishing/services/fuer-journal-autoren/abstracting-and-indexing?lang=de
Timeline:
September 30th, 2022: Abstract submission deadline
October 31st, 2022: Abstract acceptance notification
April 30th, 2023: Full-text contribution submission deadline