Securitization of cultural heritage in ASEAN countries as a political problem of global development

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the causes and consequences of the securitization of cultural heritage in countries that are part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  At the same time, these regional processes serve as an example of the broader issues of universal heritage preservation, which faces current political challenges. The identification of these practical challenges to global development is achieved through the implementation of the case study method. The case study method allows for the assessment of a wide range of threats both in the region as a whole and in specific ASEAN member states, as well as appropriate mechanisms for emergency policy measures. The synthesis in this case is supported by comparative analysis practices. The application of the Copenhagen School theory in international relations, in line with the expansion of security issues to the sphere of culture and identity, is determined by the methodological basis of this study. To determine the specifics of the implementation of protection instruments, a comparison of the securitization process is carried out in such key South Asian countries as Indonesia and Thailand. The results of the study show that the protection of heritage in ASEAN countries, in addition to affecting tourism potential, also emphasizes the importance of security in the studied region. In this context, the effectiveness of securitization of cultural sites in post - colonial states determines a test of how well the principles of sustainable development and inclusion actually work in practice. National and regional mechanisms are described as insufficient, which enhances the importance of international organizations, such as UNESCO, as a global actor in Southeast Asia. However, even the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization itself is able to act as a driving force for the securitization process only to a certain extent, which emphasizes the existence of a framework of capabilities for each of the actors of this security process.