WAR, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND MUSEUMS IN A DIVIDED WORLD: RETHINKING MUSEUM RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY 2026 THEME

Abstract

Wars leave profound and lasting impacts not only on human life and the physical environment but also on cultural heritage, which constitutes societies’ historical memory, cultural identity, and collective consciousness. Recent conflicts in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and other regions have demonstrated that cultural heritage sites, museums, archaeological areas, and historic structures are increasingly becoming targets of destruction. The destruction of cultural heritage is regarded not merely as physical damage but also as a strategic intervention that weakens societies’ connections with their past, disrupts cultural continuity, and erodes the sense of collective belonging. Within this context, this study aims to examine the effects of war on cultural heritage and museums and to discuss the roles that museums can undertake during and after conflicts, in line with the International Council of Museums’ (ICOM) 2026 theme, “Museums Bridging Divided Worlds.” Adopting a qualitative research approach, the study employs document analysis. International reports as well as recent scholarly literature on cultural heritage, war, and museology were examined. The cases of Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran were analyzed to evaluate how cultural heritage becomes a target under conditions of conflict. The findings reveal that cultural heritage is often deliberately destroyed for ideological reasons during wartime, while museums and archaeological sites are looted, the illicit trafficking of cultural property increases, and these processes have long-term consequences for collective memory. At the same time, museums are shown not merely as institutions affected by conflict but also as significant actors in the protection and documentation of cultural assets, the preservation of collective memory, and the promotion of cultural awareness. In post-conflict contexts, museums emerge as public spaces that contribute to dialogue among different communities, support cultural recovery, foster a culture of peace, and strengthen cultural diplomacy.

Keywords

• cultural heritage
• museum
• collective memory
• peace building
• armed conflict

Supporting Institution

The study received no financial support from any institution.

Ethical Statement

During the preparation of the study entitled "WAR, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND MUSEUMS IN A DIVIDED WORLD: RETHINKING MUSEUM RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY 2026 THEME,” scientific, ethical, and citation standards were followed. The data were not falsified or manipulated, and the manuscript has not been submitted to any other academic publication venue for consideration. This research does not require ethics committee approval. The manuscript was prepared in accordance with the ethical guidelines of Anasay, which draw on the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for authors, reviewers, and editors.

Thanks

Acknowledgments: None.

Bölünmüş Bir Dünyada Savaş, Kültürel Miras ve Müzeler: Uluslararası Müzeler Günü 2026 Teması Bağlamında Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

Savaşlar, yalnızca insan yaşamı ve fiziksel çevre üzerinde değil, toplumların tarihsel belleğini, kültürel kimliğini ve kolektif hafızasını oluşturan kültürel miras üzerinde de derin ve kalıcı izler bırakmaktadır. Orta Doğu, Doğu Avrupa ve diğer çatışma bölgelerinde yaşanan savaşlar, kültürel miras alanlarının, müzelerin, arkeolojik bölgelerin ve tarihi yapıların giderek daha fazla hedef haline geldiğini göstermektedir. Kültürel mirasın yok edilmesi, yalnızca fiziksel bir tahribat olarak değil, aynı zamanda toplumların geçmişle kurduğu bağları zayıflatan, kültürel sürekliliği kesintiye uğratan ve toplumsal aidiyet duygusunu aşındıran stratejik bir müdahale biçimi olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışma, Uluslararası Müzeler Konseyi’nin (ICOM) 2026 yılı için belirlediği “Bölünmüş Bir Dünyayı Birleştiren Müzeler” teması çerçevesinde savaşların kültürel miras ve müzeler üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi ve müzelerin çatışma ile çatışma sonrası süreçlerde üstlenebileceği rolleri tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada nitel araştırma yaklaşımı benimsenmiş ve doküman analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Bu kapsamda uluslararası kuruluşların raporları ile kültürel miras, savaş ve müzecilik alanındaki güncel bilimsel çalışmalar incelenmiştir. Çalışmada Afganistan, Suriye, Irak, Yemen, Ukrayna, Gazze ve İran örnekleri üzerinden kültürel mirasın savaş koşullarında nasıl hedef haline geldiği değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma bulguları, savaş dönemlerinde kültürel mirasın ideolojik nedenlerle kasıtlı olarak yok edildiğini, müzelerin ve arkeolojik alanların yağmalandığını, kültürel varlık kaçakçılığının arttığını ve bu süreçlerin toplumların kolektif belleği üzerinde uzun vadeli etkiler yarattığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bununla birlikte müzelerin yalnızca zarar gören kurumlar olmadığı; kültürel varlıkların korunması, belgelenmesi, toplumsal hafızanın sürdürülmesi ve kültürel farkındalığın geliştirilmesi açısından önemli işlevler üstlendiği görülmektedir. Çatışma sonrası süreçlerde ise müzeler, farklı topluluklar arasında diyalog kurulmasına, kültürel iyileşmenin desteklenmesine, barış kültürünün geliştirilmesine ve kültürel diplomasinin güçlendirilmesine katkı sağlayan kamusal alanlar olarak öne çıkmaktadır.

Keywords

• Kültürel miras
• Savaş ve çatışma
• müze
• Toplumsal bellek
• Barış pedagojisi

Supporting Institution

Çalışmayı destekleyen kurum bulunmamaktadır.

Ethical Statement

“Bölünmüş Bir Dünyada Savaş, Kültürel Miras ve Müzeler: Uluslararası Müzeler Günü 2026 Teması Bağlamında Bir Değerlendirme” başlıklı çalışmanın yazım sürecinde bilimsel kurallara, etik ve alıntı kurallarına uyulmuş; toplanan veriler üzerinde herhangi bir tahrifat yapılmamış ve bu çalışma herhangi başka bir akademik yayın ortamına değerlendirme için gönderilmemiştir. Bu araştırma etik kurul kararı zorunluluğu taşımamaktadır. Makale, Etik Kurulları Yayın Etiği Komitesinin (Committe on Publication Ethics-COPE) yazar, hakem ve editörler için belirtilen kurallardan yararlanılarak oluşturulmuş olan Anasay dergisi etik kuralları çerçevesinde yazılmıştır.

Thanks

Bu çalışma için teşekkür beyanı bulunmamaktadır.

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