Regulation and policy-making for urban cultural heritage preservation: a comparison between Iran and Italy
Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
ISSN: 2044-1266
Article publication date: 12 December 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Despite various comparative studies in the field of cultural heritage protection in the world, there is still a significant lack of comparative research on policies related to the legal system of countries' governance. The purpose of this study is to address the comparative policies in Iran and Italy, with a particular focus on the results of the executive experiences of two different types of policies in the cities of Oroumieh (North-West of Iran) and Turin (in North-West of Italy).
Design/methodology/approach
Utilising the comparative, analytical, bibliographic and descriptive historical research methodology, which is based on the study of the local, national and international comprehensive review of regulations and policy-making of cultural heritage preservation policies in Iran and Italy. In this research, the related documents in three languages (Persian, Italian and English) have been examined to compare profoundly and comprehensively the policies and regulations adopted in these two countries to be able to analyze the national and transnational regulations and local policies in the cultural heritage sector.
Findings
In addition to many cultural similarities and numerous commonalities, especially in the multiplicity of urban cultural heritage in historical centers, the results suggest that the legislation structure in Iran is much more centralized than in Italy. Also, the findings suggest that Italy focuses on aligning its previously centralized national legislative system in line with contemporary European heritage and preservation policies.
Originality/value
The paper outlines how to use historical and cultural similarities through comparative study to benefit the experiences of two historical countries in urban heritage conservation and policy-making part despite their differences.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Considering that the present article is part of the doctoral dissertation of Shahid Beheshti University in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy), Leiden University in the Netherlands, and College of Architecture, Texas Tech University in Lubbock. The authors of this article would like to express their appreciation for the valuable advice and guidance of Dr Angioletta Voghera, a member of the Polytechnic University of Turin, and Ian Lister, a language expert of the Polytechnic's Language Center.
Citation
Boodaghi, O., Fanni, Z. and Mehan, A. (2022), "Regulation and policy-making for urban cultural heritage preservation: a comparison between Iran and Italy", Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-08-2021-0138
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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