In times when conflicts are becoming increasingly culturalized and Governing fuelled by identity politics, this pioneering study is timely in connecting heritage studies and cultural policies with issues of difference, conflicts and reconciliation. Using the case of South East Europe as exploration ground for wider philosophical and practical questions related to Heritage heritage, it calls on us to rethink how we approach the past and deal Višnja Kisić is a researcher The European Cultural with diversities – among cultures, nations, communities, classes, and lecturer at the Centre for Foundation (ECF) initiates, gender, and generations. Finally, Kisić offers invaluable insights in the Museology and Heritology Dissonance activates, facilitates and at the University of Belgrade. benefits and flaws of international development aid and transitional supports cultural exchange She holds a BA in Art History, justice actions in post-conflict areas, making a strong case for the and creative expression across an MA in Cultural Policy and crucial role of culture and heritage in overcoming symbolic violence Promises and Realities of Europe by connecting local Management, and a PhD in and creating understanding of ‘the other’. cultural change-makers to help Museum and Heritage Studies. Selected Cultural Policies catalyse a cultural response to the fragmentation of Europe. Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihajlović Secretary General, Europa Nostra www.culturalfoundation.eu Governing Heritage Dissonance is a valuable contribution to the continued development of ‘New Heritage’ thinking. Written, refreshingly, Višnja Kisić Selected Cultural Policies of and Realities Promises Governing Heritage Dissonance How narratives emerge, from a South East European perspective it gives a cogent rebuttal to the notion that heritage is cosy or comfortable, and instead deals with unfold and impact across Europe dissonance and plurality as aspects of all heritage, as intrinsic as they are unavoidable. Through her analysis of four examples of attempts in today, and how they contribute to South East Europe to use heritage to re-forge consensus and unity, Kisić in effect asks why heritage dissonance is feared – must we always redrawing our maps of Europe. try to smooth it away, can its tensions be used constructively? Graham Fairclough McCord Centre for Landscape, Newcastle University, UK Višnja Kisić CULTURAL POLICY RESEARCH CULTURAL POLICY RESEARCH AWARD 2013 CULTURAL POLICY RESEARCH AWARD 2013 AWARD CUL TURAL POLIC Y RESEARCH AWARD Višnja Kisić Centre for Museology and Heritology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade Governing Heritage Dissonance Promises and Realities of Selected Cultural Policies Višnja Kisić CULTURAL POLICY RESEARCH AWARD 2013 Endorsements “In times when conflicts are becoming increasingly culturalized and fuelled by identity politics, this pioneering study is timely in connecting heritage studies and cultural policies with issues of difference, conflicts and reconciliation. Using the case of South East Europe as exploration ground for wider philosophical and practical questions related to heritage, it calls on us to rethink how we approach the past and deal with diversities – among cultures, nations, communities, classes, gender, and generations. Finally, Kisić offers invaluable insights in the benefits and flaws of international development aid and transitional justice actions in post- conflict areas, making a strong case for the crucial role of culture and heritage in overcoming symbolic violence and creating understanding of ‘the other’.” Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihajlović Secretary General, Europa Nostra “Governing Heritage Dissonance is a valuable contribution to the continued development of ‘New Heritage’ thinking. Written, refreshingly, from a South East European perspective it gives a cogent rebuttal to the notion that heritage is cosy or comfortable, and instead deals with dissonance and plurality as aspects of all heritage, as intrinsic as they are unavoidable. Through her analysis of four examples of attempts in South East Europe to use heritage to re-forge consensus and unity, Kisić in effect asks why heritage dissonance is feared – must we always try to smooth it away, can its tensions be used constructively?” Graham Fairclough McCord Centre for Landscape, Newcastle University, UK 5 “Višnja Kisić’s first book is challenging the borders between heritage studies, cultural policies and practices of mediation and intercultural dialogue. Is the dialogue possible around understanding of the common past, still ‘preserved’ in a form of a cultural monument, unwanted by some, or re-appropriated by others? How can culture of memory be developed around heritage that divides? What are the specificities of heritage institutions, international actors, professionals and NGOs in dealing with the past? This brilliant book offers a fresh perspective on possible policy tools, both through success and failure stories.” Milena Dragićević Šešić Professor of Cultural Policy and Cultural Management, University of Arts, Belgrade, Serbia “This important study exposes the problems of trying to neutralize conflicted heritage, arguing instead that it is the quality of inclusive dialogue around such resources that matters. Kisić makes a compelling case for the creative management of interpretative dissonances in heritage that deserves the attention not just of professionals but anyone engaged with culture and Europe today.” François Matarasso Honorary Professor, Robert Gordon University, UK “South East Europe is well suited to discuss under what conditions heritage arouse aggression and how heritagization can be turned effective in overcoming conflict and making for trust and inclusion. Višnja Kisić’s book provides a much needed ensemble of hopeful empirical evidence to rethink the possibilities and urgency for an inclusive heritage discourse.” Peter Aronsson Professor of History, Linnaeus University, Sweden 6 “The book you have in your hands is the most serious attempt to explain the nature of heritage that I have read in years. Way beyond usual discourse and reach! Studying this subject in specific, conflicting and delicate historic circumstances and in a situation which suggests nothing of the ease of disinterested intellectual speculation – has born an impressive account. This book will easily stay on the shelf of heritage professionals working in any public memory institution or anybody taking cultural politics or cultural diplomacy seriously.” Tomislav Šola Professor of Museology, University of Zagreb, Croatia 7 8 Table of Contents Endorsements 5 Table of Contents 9 Foreword 13 Acknowledgements 15 Preface 19 Executive Summary 23 1. Setting the Stage 27 1.1 Theoretical framework 32 1.2 South East Europe as a testing zone 34 1.3 Methods for analysing case studies 37 2. Dissonant Heritage or Heritage Dissonance? 49 2.1 Dissonant heritage as a ‘special’ heritage niche 52 2.2 Heritage as inherently dissonant process 54 3. Heritage Dissonance as the Object of Cultural Policy 59 3.1 Neutralizing dissonance: Athens 1931, Venice 1964 and UNESCO 1972 61 3.2 Acknowledging dissonance: UNESCO 2001, UNESCO 2003 and Faro 2005 65 3.3 From authorized towards inclusive heritage discourse 70 4. Conflict and Politics of Reconciliation Through Heritage 77 4.1 Politics of ethno-nationalization and imported reconciliation 83 4.2 From post-conflict reconstruction of heritage to a dialogue around heritage dissonance 90 9 5. Creating Common Heritage Through the World Heritage List 97 5.1 Transnational nominations to the World Heritage List: beyond competitive national practice 101 5.2 Politically desirable narrative of the nomination process and its divergent aspects 103 5.3 Creating the framework for the nomination process 107 5.4 Caught between political correctness and contestations 110 5.5 Dissonant interpretations of Stećaks within ethno-national imaginations 114 5.6 Crafting a discourse of interrelatedness: Stećaks as a bridge of diversities 120 5.7 Supporting a common interpretation: critique, disclaims and unease 122 5.8 Engineering for the World Heritage List: leaning on the authorized heritage discourse 127 5.9 Sustainability of shared interpretation: strength or a threat? 130 6. Interpreting the Common History of the Balkans 141 6.1 Creating peace in the minds: UNESCO Venice Office as a reconciliatory force in SEE 145 6.2 Reading the exhibition: creating a common narrative for South East Europe 147 6.3 Setting the tone for Imagining the Balkans 152 6.4 The first turning point: from critical to consensual, from concept to artefacts 155 6.5 The second turning point: from mutually exclusive celebration to inclusive construction 162 6.6 ‘Spirit of cohesion’: silencing the dissonance 163 6.7 Haunting ghosts from the past: drop offs, diplomatic disputes and audience reactions 168 6.8 Exhibition as the excess within a limited space for movement 174 10 7. Musealizing Yugoslavia: Towards a Critical Participative Museum 189 7.1 Museum of Yugoslav History: from mirror reflection of politics to active creator 191 7.2 Promises of the New Old Museum: a national institution with regional scope and responsibility 195 7.3 The place for discussion on Yugoslav history: an outstanding event 200 7.4 Reading the exhibition: a problematic country that was destined to fail 202 7.5 Crafting a story of Yugoslavia: dissonance within ambition for objectivism 205 7.6 On the convict’s chair: ‘What have you done to my country?’ 219 7.7 Museum as Scheherazade: between a rock and a hard place 226 8.