Elif Kalaycioglu

Elif Kalaycioglu, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Alabama, sheds light on her groundbreaking work, The Politics of World Heritage. She explores how UNESCO constructs a cultural history of humanity through various political lenses. Kalaycioglu discusses the evolution from viewing humanity as a rarefied subject to recognizing its diversity, highlighting the tensions between state power and expert judgment. She also addresses the challenges within contested memory sites and shares insights on her upcoming research on Silk Roads cultural diplomacy.

Elif Kalaycioglu, Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama and author focused on UNESCO's World Heritage, dives deep into the complexities of cultural history. She discusses how the World Heritage regime constructs various visions of humanity, often excluding marginalized voices. Kalaycioglu highlights the shift from viewing humanity as a single entity to recognizing its diversity and the growing influence of states in curating this narrative. She also addresses the regime's pitfalls and upcoming research on contested heritage sites.