Sustaining cultural heritage in post-conflict Syria:The case of Aleppo

Cultural heritage in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been deliberately targeted or caught in the crossfire since the beginning of the Arab spring in 2010. Syria, for example, has seen an ongoing war since 2011 that has destroyed parts of its major cities, its social and cultural fabric, and its tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Post-conflict reconstruction scenarios can impose new reconstruction plans, out of context or following the Tabula Rasa approach, without considering the cultural and social changes that occurred during the conflict. Since heritage is related to culture and values, reconfiguring the post-conflict identity and broader social and cultural context are crucial to the reconstruction process. This chapter argues that for post-conflict heritage reconstruction to be sustainable, a bottom-up, people-driven, participatory, and holistic approach is required. This approach stems from the nature of cultural heritage that requires a careful assessment of its tangible and intangible value recognised by the local community and several stakeholders. This chapter, therefore, explores various methods, often underestimated, that use cultural heritage values as the basis for the recovery process, from a war-torn community to the post-conflict reconstruction. Keeping in mind that post-conflict reconstruction is a critical element in achieving global stability, security and eradication of poverty