Key International Policy Approaches to the Securitization of Cultural Heritage in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The article examines the securitization of cultural heritage in Southeast Asia as a process of incorporating cultural objects, historical narratives, museum practices, restitution claims, regional cooperation mechanisms, and financial initiatives into the agenda of international, regional, and human security. The relevance of the topic is determined by the fact that cultural heritage is increasingly viewed not only as an object of historical memory, cultural diplomacy, or tourism policy, but also as an element of the security agenda. This issue is of particular importance for Southeast Asia, where cultural objects are associated with the risks of illicit trafficking, the removal of artifacts, illegal excavations, underwater looting, commercialization, and political instrumentalization. The purpose of the article is to examine the key international political approaches to the securitization of cultural heritage in Southeast Asia as a process of incorporating cultural objects, historical narratives, restitution practices, regional cooperation mechanisms, and new financial and economic initiatives into the agenda of international, regional, and human security. The methodological basis of the study consists of approaches from international relations theory, critical security studies, heritage studies, political regionalism, the analysis of international legal regimes for the protection of cultural heritage, the concept of securitization, discourse analysis, the systemic method, the comparative method, the institutional approach, normative legal analysis, and the case study method. The article reveals the theoretical foundations of securitization, characterizes the main threats to the region’s cultural objects, and analyzes the role of ASEAN, UNESCO, state actors, and private financial structures in shaping the regime for the protection of cultural heritage. It is substantiated that the effectiveness of securitization depends on the ability of states and international partners to combine security logic with cultural rights, transparent governance, a responsible art market, and the universal value of cultural heritage.