The Destruction of Cultural Property as a Weapon of War

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. Cultural Property as a Weapon of War

   • Helga Turku

   Pages 1-25

3. Cultural Property Destruction in History and in the Present

   • Helga Turku

   Pages 27-66

4. Long-Term Security Repercussions of Attacking Cultural Property

   • Helga Turku

   Pages 67-97

5. International Law on Protection of Cultural Property During Armed Conflict

   • Helga Turku

   Pages 99-133

6. International and State Response to Terrorists’ Attacks and Plunder of Cultural Property in War Zones

   • Helga Turku

   Pages 135-168

7. Future Action to Protect Cultural Property During Conflict

   • Helga Turku

   Pages 169-198

8. Back Matter

   Pages 199-207

   PDF

This book aims to advance the understanding of cultural property in armed conflict, and its significance for anti-terrorism and peace-building strategies. As the author argues, ISIS’ orchestrated theft and destruction of cultural property has become a tactic of war. Through a historical, political, and legal analysis, this book explains the pathology of radical groups’ behavior toward cultural objects as part of their terror campaign. Using constructivist ideas, it explains the importance of cultural property in the context of short-term and long-term security and analyzes the evolution of laws and policies to protect it.

• Cultural property
• Psychological warfare
• National identity
• Terrorism
• ISIS
• Cultural heritage

“Analyzing a wide range of recent source material, the author delves into the dark and alarming topic of cultural cleansing and the use of cultural property as a weapon of war in the Middle East. Turku takes a long, hard look at the losses to world heritage and what we can do to stop the systematic erasure of cultural memory and brutal manipulations of identity. ISIL represents the antithesis of cultural heritage preservation and protection.  We can expect a future in which extremists continue to spread their ideology through performative destructions of heritage sites and finance their operations from the theft and looting of cultural property. Turku explores the reasons behind this disturbing phenomenon and how the international community can best counteract it. In so many ways, our future depends on the answers to these questions.”  (Michael D. Danti, Assistant Professor of Archaeology, Boston University, USA)

“This is an exceedingly important study of why cultural heritage has become a target and a tool of war. For the past few years, the cradle of civilization has been held hostage by a group of lawless individuals, who seek to break the continuity of our human history. By examining the latest wave of terrorist attacks on cultural property, this book effectively highlights the rationales for such acts, ultimate costs to society as a whole, and legal responses by the international community. A wonderful blend of legal analysis, politics, and history. This book should be of interest to legal scholars, political scientists, and international relations specialists.” (Félix E. Martín, Associate Professor of International Relations, Florida International University, USA)

• Washington DC, USA

  Helga Turku

Helga Turku, JD, PhD, is a Washington, DC-based attorney and author who previously worked for the International Organization for Migration, San Francisco State University, and US Government-funded rule of law and security projects in Africa and Latin America.

Policies and ethics