Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. The 2003 Convention in the Context of Sustainable Development .- Chapter 3. Pierre Bourdieu’s ‘Theory of Practice’.- Chapter 4. Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Light of Bourdieu’s ‘Theory of Practice’.- Chapter 5. The Valorisation of Intangible Cultural Heritage.- Chapter 6. Conclusion.
Marlen Meissner is a cultural scientist and music pedagogue with a PhD in Heritage Studies. In 2011, she started to work in international heritage research projects and has continuously focused on intangible cultural heritage. For several years, she was a member of the federal jury of Brandenburg for the selection of applications for the German UNESCO inventory of intangible cultural heritage. Since 2021, she is head of the department 'Heritage, Nature, Society' at German Commission for UNESCO and part of the German expert committee on intangible cultural heritage.
This book provides a systemic understanding of how intangible cultural heritage (ICH) can promote sustainable development. It offers new insights on the identity-building potential of heritage practices as ‘enabler’ of development and their capacity to generate social and economic profits as ‘driver’ of development.
Based on Pierre Bourdieu’s ‘Theory of Practice’, a model for the valorisation of ICH is presented, which may serve as a tool to stimulate the developmental potentials of heritage on a practical level. The functioning of the valorisation model is exemplified with a case study on a German choral tradition, which has not been officially nominated as ICH. Therewith, it is shown how the model can be applied to utilise the developmental potentials of ICH - as promoted in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) – even beyond UNESCO’s scope. This book is of interest to cultural heritage scholars.