Heritage Protection and Reconstruction in Syria After the Islamic State

Since the onset of Syria’s civil war in 2011, both the people and the heritage of the country have suffered devastating loss. Focusing on the damage and destruction done to key heritage sites such as the Old City of Aleppo and Palmyra, this entry traces the complex consequences of the war for Syria’s rich cultural heritage. It then documents the myriad initiatives led by a suit of multilateral bodies, international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), and state actors to protect and reconstruct Syria’s heritage. From here, the entry documents the various criticisms that have been leveled at these projects drawn from in-depth scholarly works on the topic. It also examines the extant literature which documents the complex array of views held by Syrians—in terms of their divergent views on heritage, the extent to which they believe it is a priority, and their support for both foreign and domestic projects to protect and reconstruct it. The entry concludes by noting that such findings hold important implications for future heritage projects in Syria and across other (post-)conflict contexts where mass heritage destruction has taken place.