Trafficking/Terror./War Crimes

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course will focus on threats to heritage in times of conflict and the illicit black market trade in antiquities. The course will examine the history of looting and destruction of cultural heritage in the region and the politicization of such actions by states, regimes, and non-state actors. The course will then look at patterns of looting and trafficking including emerging new trends on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Tik Tok, and means to track and document them. The course will include case studies from conflict zones in the Middle East demonstrating how cultural heritage is exploited for propaganda, legitimization, and a revenue source through illicit looting and trafficking. The course will also cover existing regional patrimony laws and international conventions regarding the protection of cultural heritage.