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- Convenor:
-
Ian Thomas
(The British Council)
Send message to Convenor
- Discussants:
-
Kai Brennert
(edgeandstory)
Sofya Shahab (Institute of Development Studies)
- Format:
- Paper panel
- Stream:
- The Future of Development Studies
Short Abstract:
In a fragmented global policy landscape, marked by multifaceted crisis, culture and heritage has the power to help reshape public policy and locally led development
Description:
Culture is integral to who we are and how we view and shape the world. It is key for diverse and inclusive societies to flourish and for enabling us to imagine different futures. Cultural practitioners are responding to the complex challenges we face from climate change to LGBTQIA+ rights. Through their work, we can connect and empathise with others, challenge perceptions and re-envision the world around us and our role within it.
There are multiple perspectives on what role culture can or should play in development, particularly in the post-2030 agenda:
- Mondiacult Declaration classified culture as a ‘global public good’, reinforcing culture’s position in the global development discourse.
- UN Pact for the Future through Action 11: We will protect and promote culture and sport as integral components of sustainable development.
- Missing Pillar report The British Council sought to position culture as a missing pillar in the wider debate of culture’s role in the processes of development.
Questions for the panel: -
• What are the dangers and opportunities of doing development with/out culture as a foundation?
• What roles can culture play within development plans and visions which have been shaped by deepening and pervasive crises and uncertainty?
• Who talks and - who doesn’t - about culture in sustainable development? What ideas are being favoured, and what rationales tend to dominate?
• How do we build systemic alliances between the cultural sector and with the development community which can contribute to new opportunities for positive change?
Accepted papers:
Session 1Paper short abstract:
Debates surround integrating culture into sustainable development. Western scholars see culture as an economic tool, while African scholars emphasize indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. This research explores power dynamics, tensions, and synergies between Western and African perspectives.
Paper long abstract:
Western scholars, such as Arif Dirlik (2011) and Wolfgang Sachs (2010), argue that culture is often instrumentalized as a tool for economic growth and development, neglecting its intrinsic value and potential for social transformation. In contrast, African scholars, such as Claude Sumata (2013) and Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni (2013), emphasize the importance of indigenous knowledge systems and cultural practices in promoting sustainable development and social justice. While Western scholars tend to focus on the cultural economy and creative industries as drivers of development (e.g., UNESCO's Creative Economy Report, 2013), African scholars highlight the need to decolonize development discourse and prioritize local cultural perspectives (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2013). For instance, Sumata (2013) argues that African cultural practices, such as Ubuntu, can provide alternative models for sustainable development that prioritize community and social solidarity. Prominent sustainable development activists, such as Vandana Shiva (2013) and Kumi Naidoo (2013), also highlight the need to recognize the cultural rights and knowledge systems of marginalized communities. Shiva argues that the dominant development paradigm is "cannibalizing" local cultures and knowledge systems, while Naidoo emphasizes the importance of "cultural humility" in development practice.This research examines the power dynamics at play in the cultural-sustainable development nexus, highlighting the tensions and synergies between Western and African perspectives. This study aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the role of culture in sustainable development, one that acknowledges the diversity of cultural perspectives and promotes more inclusive and equitable approaches to development.
Paper short abstract:
Five years after authoring The Missing Pillar, Nordicity discusses the relevance of the SDG framework for bridging the gap between culture and development, in light of the updated Missing Foundation report.
Paper long abstract:
Five years ago, the British Council partnered with Nordicity to examine culture’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Through a mapping exercise, Nordicity identified the 11 SDGs targeted by the British Council’s programming and produced 8 thematic case studies (through specialist advisors), leading to the Missing Pillar report.
The core objectives were to understand how a wide range of approaches to arts and cultural programming contribute to the SDGs, and to illustrate the difficulty in evidencing impact of longitudinal arts and cultural investment. We examined the potential entry points to developing a sustainable framework for programme design and implementation, and to enable an easier aggregation of evaluative data to accommodate donor requirements.
We developed recommendations for incorporating the SDGs into British Council programme development, as well as M&E processes to measure its contribution going forward. The report also encouraged the wider culture sector to adopt the language of the SDGs in hopes of mainstreaming advocacy and standardised monitoring across the cultural sector. Of deep interest was to consider how our findings may contribute to wider cultural policy agendas, providing a space for stronger engagement and collaboration, and ensuring culture was at the Agenda 2030 table.
The follow up Missing Foundation report, authored by edgeandstory, analysed the progress towards these recommendations. In this presentation, Nordicity dialogues with the Missing Foundation to discuss the pragmatic use of the SDG framework, as encountered in our work in the past five years, to build more sustainable and systemic alliances with development policy makers.
Paper short abstract:
The role of cultural leadership and heritage narratives in addressing sustainable development in Scotland, Norway, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. It examines how culture integrates into sustainability discourses, highlights leadership challenges, and identifies pathways for future action.
Paper long abstract:
This paper examines the critical role of cultural leadership and cultural heritage narratives in addressing sustainable development across four European UNESCO sites: Scotland, Norway, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. Grounded in findings from the JPI-AHRC-funded CULTIVATE project and a Clore AHRC fellowship, the research highlights culture as both a driver and a reflection of sustainability challenges.
While the culture/nature divide is well established in academic discourse, our research shows that place-based cultural narratives—shaped by socio-economic, historical, and ecological contexts—are vital for addressing sustainability. However, integrating these narratives into broader sustainability discourses faces challenges, including resource limitations, technological disruption, erosion of local identities by global cultural homogenisation, and the reinforcement of existing power structures through cultural practices.
The research also identifies the potential of cultural leadership to mediate these challenges by reframing sustainability in ways that resonate with local communities. However, findings reveal that cultural leadership often prioritises the preservation of identity over proactive engagement in sustainability transitions. This paper argues that cultural leaders need to harness heritage as a transformative tool for envisioning sustainable futures. By connecting cultural practices with the pressing issues of local and place-based sustainable development, this study offers new insights into how cultural heritage can serve as a foundation for localised yet globally significant sustainability strategies.
Paper short abstract:
Exploration of how cultural heritage can be employed to engage non-state armed groups in conflict zones. By analysing NSAG motivations—ranging from destruction to protective stewardship—it highlights case studies and strategies for fostering trust, reducing risks, and promoting sustainable peace.
Paper long abstract:
Cultural heritage plays a dual role in conflict zones: it can be both a target and a catalyst for dialogue. This paper examines how heritage can be leveraged to engage non-state armed groups (NSAGs), exploring the diverse motivations behind their actions, from ideological destruction to protective stewardship. Using insights from recent research, the paper highlights how tailored approaches to NSAG engagement can transform cultural heritage into an entry point for trust-building and peace-building.
Case studies from conflict-affected regions, such as Syria, Mali, and Afghanistan, reveal how NSAGs' attitudes toward heritage are shaped by factors like ideology, external influences, and local community ties. These examples demonstrate how cultural heritage initiatives—ranging from documentation to collaborative protection—have created opportunities for constructive dialogue and reduced the risk of destruction.
The paper also addresses the challenges of working with NSAGs, including risks of legitimisation, contested narratives, and the vulnerability of heritage sites.
The paper will explore potential actions for leveraging the benefits of cultural heritage protection for NSAG engagement. By positioning cultural heritage within global peacebuilding frameworks, the paper argues for its integration into policy and practice, demonstrating its potential to foster resilience, trust, and long-term stability in conflict zones.
Paper short abstract:
This study explores how Northeast India's rich cultural heritage can drive sustainable development. By integrating traditional knowledge, crafts, and practices with modern frameworks, it highlights innovative pathways to foster inclusive growth while preserving identity.
Paper long abstract:
Northeast India-a region of incredible rich cultural heritages and diversity in customs, traditions, and identities with the potential of leading sustainable development by integrating those into modern platforms. This paper evaluates the role that cultural heritage as a developmental tool takes to address some socio-economic and environmental challenges the region faces in relation to some traditional knowledge systems, indigenous crafts, folklore, festivals, and practices that depict the principles of sustainability.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, the study critically examines cases related to community initiatives, heritage-driven entrepreneurship, and policies that utilize culture as a platform for inclusive development, community up-liftment, and ecosystem resilience. In detail, the review focuses on some of the ancient and traditional crafts practiced in India-like the handloom, bamboo-based units, which protect cultural heritage yet produce livelihoods along with green culture.
It addresses the challenges of commodification of culture, loss of heritage through modernization, and the need for strong policies that balance development with preservation. The research is focused on the potential of cultural heritage to be a catalyst for progress by analyzing successful case studies and proposing a heritage-centered development model.
The study thus advocates for cooperative working, in which government bodies, local communities, and private enterprises should collaborate to take Northeast India's traditions and interlock them as a tapestry for sustainable development that is inclusive in its growth, making sure that the growth is stayed within the ethnicity of Northeast India.
Paper short abstract:
This paper examines the intersection of adaptive reuse, water management, and community resilience in regions facing acute water scarcity. By exploring case studies from Texas, the study highlights innovative urban strategies that integrate cultural heritage to foster sustainable development.
Paper long abstract:
The global water crisis poses significant challenges to urban sustainability, particularly in regions with rapidly depleting aquifers and fragile ecosystems. This paper investigates the potential of adaptive reuse as a transformative approach to address these challenges. By repurposing industrial heritage sites, we propose integrating water management practices that prioritize ecological and community resilience.
Focusing on comparative case studies in Texas (Ogallala Aquifer) and Iran, the research delves into the socio-environmental impacts of water scarcity and the role of culturally sensitive urban design. The study utilizes GIS mapping, historical analysis, and community engagement methods to uncover spatial and cultural dynamics influencing water resource planning.
Through an interdisciplinary lens, this paper explores:
1. The role of adaptive reuse in preserving industrial heritage while addressing contemporary challenges.
2. Innovative hydrological systems that integrate with urban design.
3. Community-led initiatives fostering resilience and equity in water-scarce regions.
The findings aim to contribute to ongoing discourse on sustainable development by offering replicable models that bridge ecological preservation, cultural heritage, and socio-economic equity. This research underscores the importance of collaborative strategies to transform urban landscapes in the face of environmental and social crises.
Paper short abstract:
Unique approaches are needed to bring development to the indigenous families and communities. The structure of traditional governance in the Dani tribe of Wamena requires government and the civil society organisations to attentively and critically design and implement their development projects.
Paper long abstract:
Understanding cultural background of a specific area for development is a crucial part of development project design and implementation. Papua as it comprises multi cultures and sub cultures, requires unique approaches for development. The cultures of the Papuan highlanders are different from then ones in the coastal areas and this has influenced the way people would respond and engage to development projects. This paper discusses unique approaches in bringing development initiatives and interventions to the Dani tribe in Wamena, Papua, Indonesia. Findings and proposed approaches are derived from six primary sources, as well as from an interview with a development practitioner with 25 years of experience working on family and community development in Wamena. A development project needs to show its consistent response towards the understanding of the structure of traditional governance in the Dani tribe. For instance, involving women leaders to lead and inspire other women to increase their family economy can be a great way of bringing family and community development. However, understanding the patriarchal system and how it can be compromised within the cultural context is necessary to make sure the project is delivered effectively. The phase zero when bringing a solution for development needs to be stretched in the context of time, given the relationship to build with the locals may request at least months. Understanding the gender bias and its cultural phenomenon may allow development practitioners to help enhance the life of the Dani people in Wamena.
Paper short abstract:
Within Tibetan communities’ entangled historical, political, and cultural context on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), NGOs created a buffer zone for establishing Han-Tibetan consensus on ecological issues.
Paper long abstract:
In recent decades, climate change has significantly threatened the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau’s (QTP) ecological stability. Meanwhile, China’s increased engagement in international affairs has shifted its Western Development Campaign towards sustainable development priorities. Furthermore, its claim to consolidate its political leadership legitimacy in the QTP region has led to greater attention being paid to the pollution problems associated with urbanization and the development of the tourism economy in the QTP region. In response, the Chinese government has begun to promote the construction of cultural ecosystem services, including national parks and other ecological protection facilities. This inadvertently coincides with the indigenous Tibetan advocacy of ‘Green Tibetan’ based on their traditional religious beliefs and culture to protect the natural 'sacred lands’, and has received a cooperative response from the Tibetan community.
Considering the complex historical political issues in the QTP Tibetan Autonomous Region and the long-standing concern of internal orientalism in the cultural exchanges between the Han and Tibetan communities, the Han-Tibetan consensus reached in the current QTP ecological conservation discourse deserves in-depth investigation. Through a critical review of the interactions between indigenous Tibetan communities on QTP and Han Chinese environmentalists in the field of ecological conservation and development in the QTP region, this paper argues that local Chinese NGOs, especially grassroots NGOs, have played an important role in re-producing ethnocultural knowledge and integrating consensus on ecological conservation. This paper aims to provide a more nuanced perspective on NGOs’ cooperation function in intercultural ecological conservation.
Paper short abstract:
Biocultural approaches to conservation uplift local culture as a foundation for protecting global biodiversity, but new opportunities and contradictions emerge as biocultural initiatives begin to receive large-scale funding from multilateral donors.
Paper long abstract:
Culture and nature are increasingly understood as interconnected (Maffi, 2005; Pascual et al., 2023), yet culture has been historically neglected in discourses on sustainable development. This is particularly true for environmental conservation, where conservationists traditionally sought to preserve ‘pristine’ nature without people (Brockington et al., 2008). More recently, biocultural diversity is re-emerging as a lens which understands culture and nature as intertwined and interdependent (Bridgewater and Rotherham, 2018), and there is growing focus on the role that biocultural approaches could play in addressing sustainable development issues (Merçon et al., 2019; Reyes-García et al., 2023).
Alongside academic developments, the role of culture is increasingly recognised in global conservation policy and practice, particularly through commitments to Indigenous peoples and local communities. The Global Biodiversity Framework brings together issues of addressing biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems, and protecting Indigenous rights as key priorities (UNEP, 2022), while global-scale investments like the Global Environment Facility’s Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) are providing direct financing to Indigenous peoples to strengthen their stewardship over biodiverse landscapes and seascapes (ICI, 2024).
This paper explores the opportunities and contradictions encountered when biocultural approaches – valued for their place-based and culturally relevant attributes – become funded through multilateral donor organisations. Exploring the ICI project as a case study, I draw attention to the ways that aspects of culture may find themselves restricted or reshaped in conservation initiatives to meet expectations or requirements of global funders, reinforcing calls for better attention to power in biocultural approaches for sustainable development (Merçon et al., 2019).