Page 19 - Abstracts of the 2nd Slovenia–Turkey Bilateral Colloquium

Slovenia–Turkey Bilateral Colloquium · Portorož, 19 May 2023

The Restitution of Cultural Heritage:
A Mediating Role of Systems Approach

Tadeja Jere Jakulin
University of Primorska, Slovenia
tadeja.jerejakulin@upr.si

The restitution of cultural heritage requires a comprehensive and inter-
disciplinary approach that considers the issue’s legal, ethical, diplomatic,
cultural, and social dimensions. This paper aims to use a systems ap-
proach and causal-loop modelling (c l d) to understand the restitution
of cultural heritage widely. System dynamics is an approach to modelling
complex systems that emphasises feedback loops and time delays, mak-
ing it particularly suited for understanding dynamic and complex systems
such as cultural heritage. The qualitative modelling within the system dy-
namics frame presents a model of the complex interrelationships between
the various factors and actors involved in the restitution of cultural her-
itage. The key elements and actors that play a crucial role in the restitu-
tion process intertwine in the model: the legal framework, political will,
cultural policies, ethical considerations, diplomatic relations, and public
opinion. The dynamic nature of the model’s elements, their independen-
cies, and their unexpected interactions make restitution a complex and
challenging process. A causal-loop model (c l d) results from the study;
it highlights and helps to understand cultural heritage restitution from
a broader point of view. A systems approach can help to mediate these
complex factors and facilitate a more inclusive and sustainable restitution
process.
Keywords: a systems approach, cultural heritage, restitution, qualitative
modelling, c l d

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