Democratising world heritage: The policies and practices of community involvement in Turkey

Turkey's efforts to integrate community involvement in UNESCO World Heritage management reflect a complex interplay between global standards and local politics. The study reveals that while these policies aim to democratize heritage governance, they often reinforce existing power hierarchies rather than challenge them. Using Çatalhöyük as a case study, the research applies Sally Merry’s concept of 'vernacularization' to analyze how Turkish officials adapt UNESCO's best practices, leading to contested ethical norms and governance structures. An ethnographic approach was employed to examine the social consequences of these policies, highlighting both unintended outcomes and the tension between transnational heritage ideals and state authority.

Human, H. (2015). Democratising world heritage: The policies and practices of community involvement in Turkey. Journal of Social Archaeology, 15(2), 160–183. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469605314566557