- Title : The Origins and Developmental Stages of The UNESCO World Heritage Convention’s “Outstanding Universal Value”
- Author : Minjae Zoh (HK Research Professor)
- Journal : Journal of Humanities
- Publication Date : 2024.11.
- Abstract
More than fifty years have passed since the establishment of UNESCO’s
World Heritage Convention. On the whole, the background, goals, and
standards for the UNESCO organization and the establishment of the
World Heritage Convention were primarily and predominantly driven by
Western circumstances and interests of the time following the end of the
Second World War. The Western perspective, therefore, can be explained as
both the characteristics and the limitations of the existing framework and
standards. The current international understanding of what is “universal”
and the standards for what is considered “outstanding” can be explained
to have been derived from the West and then exported to non-Western
countries. Today, fifty-plus years after its establishment, the understanding of
and approach to the concept of “Outstanding Universal Value” has changed
significantly from its initial goals and meanings. The initial core emphasis
was placed on “cooperation” and “solidarity” but the emphasis today has
arguably shifted to “politics” and “competition.” This article examines the origins and developmental stages of the World Heritage Convention’s
concept of “Outstanding Universal Value.” The aim is to question whether
the concept of Outstanding Universal Value needs updates or whether there
is a need to recall early context and history. As times and circumstances have
changed, this article examines whether it is natural for the meaning of “OUV”
to change or whether the current “altered” version should be regarded as
problematic.
Link : The Origins and Developmental Stages of The UNESCO World Heritage Convention’s “Outstanding Universal Value” |
