Continuity: a fundamental yet overlooked concept in World Heritage policy and practice

A critical analysis of UNESCO World Heritage policy highlights 'continuity' as a fundamental yet underutilized concept that could resolve significant challenges facing the system. The study argues that operationalizing continuity—particularly by replacing authenticity with it in the Operational Guidelines (OG)—could bridge the culture/nature divide, facilitate people-centred living heritage approaches, and enhance community roles in management. This approach would better recognize interlinkages between people and properties while aligning with the 2012–2022 Strategic Action Plan's goals. The research contributes to contemporary discussions on World Heritage issues by proposing continuity as a strategic objective for future nominations and management strategies.

Khalaf, R. W. (2019). Continuity: a fundamental yet overlooked concept in World Heritage policy and practice. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 27(1), 102–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2019.1696782