Cultural heritage in security discourse: securitization as a mechanism for strengthening international subjectivity

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of cultural heritage in the modern security space. The global level of interest of mankind in the preservation of cultural diversity leads to an increase in interest in specific cases when heritage may be damaged during conflicts - Ukraine, Iraq, Myanmar, Sudan, etc. There is an urgent public demand for the protection of monuments during hostilities, which is based on the definition of the place of culture as an element of security. The corresponding media and scientific interest in the preservation of specific valuable cultural objects by actors of international relations also determines the need for theorizing the means of using cultural heritage in the foreign policy activities of states and within the framework of their associations.

The methodological basis of the study is a combination of general scientific and special methods. Qualitative methods were used to identify and analyze the ways of constructing such threats (vocabulary, procedural features, practices). Institutional analysis was applied to determine the role of international organizations in the process of securitization and the acquisition of influence instruments by actors in international relations.

The study found that the importance of cultural heritage in the security space continues to grow in the face of increasing hybrid threats. In accordance with the constructivist approach, there is a politicization of the transition from a humanitarian interpretation to a strategic one - through the identification of threats to specific monuments and culture in general. Additionally, it is also worth noting the pressing issue of the correctness of using emotionally colored terminology in works on the topic of securitization.

It is proven that successful securitization strengthens the foreign policy subjectivity of the state in international relations. It is also shown how the full-scale war in Ukraine led to the comprehensive protection of national cultural heritage through the interaction of internal and external actors.