Inactive, Reactive, or Pro-Active?

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ever-increasing problem of cultural heritage destruction in the eastern Mediterranean is the topic for this Forum. With the rapid spread of armed conflict and civil uprising throughout the Middle East and North Africa, the protection of cultural property takes a backseat to more pressing concerns about the destruction of lives and economic resources. In this article and the responses that follow, the complexities of preserving the past in the context of a volatile present are explored.