Balancing heritage relevance in Germany: grassroots advocacy, official adaptation and community involvement in World Heritage and beyond

Pahlen, Bettina Irene ORCID: 0000-0002-4798-521X (2025). Balancing heritage relevance in Germany: grassroots advocacy, official adaptation and community involvement in World Heritage and beyond. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This research examines the intricate relationship between grassroots advocacy and official cultural heritage management, focusing on the relevance and challenges of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Germany. Community engagement has been a strategic priority for UNESCO since 2007, supported by the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) and the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’ Target 11.4, which advocates the protection of cultural and natural heritage to achieve sustainable cities and communities by 2030. Despite these strategic efforts, persistent issues, such as conflicts between official heritage preservation and community needs limit genuine community involvement.
The study explores different approaches to community involvement in two German World Heritage properties: the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen, and the delisted Dresden Elbe Valley. Zollverein’s challenge to maintain local support for its cultural economy reuse highlights tensions between future-oriented concepts, ICOMOS’ strict conservation approach and local needs. Dresden’s 2009 loss of its World Heritage status due to structural developments underscores the fluctuating relevance of UNESCO World Heritage, conflicts between heritage and development, and evolving heritage discourse among residents and officials.
These case studies explore the varying significance of UNESCO World Heritage among different audiences, calling for an adaptive and balanced approach towards the interpretation of the World Heritage Operational Guidelines to better meet the evolving needs and expectations of diverse contemporary audiences.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):