"Preface" [2014] ELECD 276; in Nafziger, A.R. James; Paterson, Kirkwood Robert (eds), "Handbook on the Law of Cultural Heritage and International Trade" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2014) x

Book Title: Handbook on the Law of Cultural Heritage and International Trade

Editor(s): Nafziger, A.R. James; Paterson, Kirkwood Robert

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781007334

Section Title: Preface

Number of pages: 3

Extract:

Preface


In less than a half-century a robust and detailed regime of cultural
heritage law has developed in response to massive trafficking in looted
and often irreparably damaged art, artefacts and other cultural material. It
is a young and exciting field of research and practice. Originally confined
to concepts of movable or personal property law oriented to issues of
ownership, cultural heritage law now embraces an expansive process of
domestic, regional and international law that transcends property-related
issues. The basic purpose of this process is to protect all tangible objects
and intangible ideas of enduring cultural significance.
Rooted in the laws of war to deter and redress the wilful destruction of
cultural material during armed conflict, the regime today is grounded on
the broader concept of a common heritage of humankind. It extends
variously to activities on land, underground, underwater and, one might
suppose, in the outer space of orbiting scientific equipment.
This handbook offers a collection of original writings by leading
scholars and practitioners. The detailed essays are the product of a
multi-year project of the Committee on Cultural Heritage Law of the
International Law Association. Several members of the committee pro-
vided valuable editorial assistance: Thomas Adlercreutz, Margaret
Beukes, Toshiyuki Kono, Elina Moustaira, Marc-André Renold and Beat
Schönenberger. Jorge Sánchez Cordero hosted a productive editing retreat
amidst the extraordinary heritage of southern Mexico.
Following an introduction to cultural heritage law as a whole, the book
turns to the core topic of international ...