Expert: attacks on cultural heritage are attacks on a state's identity
British security researcher Craig Ross says in an interview that destroying an adversary's cultural heritage has been a military strategy for centuries and is now increasingly viewed as a matter of national security.
The destruction of cultural heritage is not a new phenomenon — for centuries it has been used as a tool of military strategy, says British security researcher and expert Craig Ross in an interview.
According to Ross, attempts to destroy an enemy's cultural heritage, plunder its treasures, or deliberately erase a people's identity can be traced from antiquity to the present day. Such actions have historically been among the oldest military tactics employed by various sides in conflicts.
A new view of cultural heritage
Ross emphasizes that today cultural heritage is no longer seen merely as the concern of historians and museums. States are increasingly recognizing that protecting it is also a matter of national security, since an attack on a people's cultural heritage is effectively an attack on its identity.
The expert explains that this growing awareness is prompting states to reconsider how they plan to protect cultural assets during conflicts and crises, as the loss of heritage can have long-term consequences for a society's self-understanding and sense of belonging.
