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The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

A Comparative Perspective

  • Presents the first comparative law book on safeguarding the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and its implementation at the national level

  • Analyses 10 case studies to help readers understand the differences between various legal systems around the globe

  • Demonstrates an innovative comparative approach to clarifying the different legal strategies in the context of intangible cultural heritage

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-ix
  2. America

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 17-17
    2. The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Brazil

      • Maria Laura Viveiros de Castro Cavalcanti
      Pages 19-35
    3. The Legal Framework for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Mexico

      • Francisco Javier López Morales, Edaly Guisell Quiroz Moreno
      Pages 37-52
  3. Middle East and Africa

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 85-85
  4. Europe

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 135-135
    2. The Legal Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Spain

      • Honorio Manuel Velasco Maillo
      Pages 165-185
    3. The Legal Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Italy

      • Pier Luigi Petrillo, Tullio Scovazzi, Benedetta Ubertazzi
      Pages 187-227
  5. Back Matter

    Pages 265-266

About this book

This book describes the global legal framework for safeguarding the “Intangible Cultural Heritage” – as defined by the UNESCO Convention in 2003 – and analyses its use in selected countries in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. Each of the contributions has been prepared by high profile experts and strategically addresses countries that are representative for their corresponding area. Our understanding of the term “Cultural Heritage” has changed considerably over the past few decades, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the concept also includes traditions and living expressions that we inherit from our ancestors and pass on to our descendants. UNESCO has recognised and responded to this change of perspective, creating through the 2003 Convention an international instrument for safeguarding the “Intangible Cultural Heritage”, a notion including oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, as well as the knowledge and skills needed to produce traditional crafts. New values, practices and heritages were recognized – from the ancient African rituals to the Mexican Mariachi musical expression to the Brazilian Samba and the Mediterranean Diet – all of which convey strong social and cultural meaning for their community's identity. Intangible Cultural Heritage is a growing, relatively recent field of study and also an emblem of the dialogue between distant populations with different cultures, which is the reason why a comparative approach is the most appropriate basis for conducting an analysis of how the contracting states to the Convention live up to their commitments through national safeguarding measures and enhancement policies or through international cooperation projects.



Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Law and Economics, Unitelma Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Pier Luigi Petrillo

  • ICH UNESCO Convention, Paris, France

    Pier Luigi Petrillo

About the editor

Pier Luigi Petrillo is full Professor of Comparative Law, Unitelma Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. He is the author of Forme di governo e forme di opposizione nei nuovi Statuti regionali (Minerva, 2006); IRAN (Il Mulino 2008); Democrazie sotto pressione. Parlamenti e lobbies nel diritto pubblico comparato (Giuffrè 2010).

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access