ABSTRACT
This introduction describes the relationship between conflict and heritage, including charting significant moments of recent historical change. It explains the structure of the book and offers a brief summary of existing scholarly literature. It also introduces the volume’s chapters and chronological, geographical and thematical coverage. It explains why heritage must be considered a central issue of defence and security at local, national and regional scales. Heritage can be a driver and target of conflict, an obstacle to stabilisation, and a vector of peace-building. This chapter also sets out the extent to which a new concept of cultural heritage intelligence can help understand how various actors are exploiting cultural heritage in order to gain diplomatic, economic and political advantage. For example, by invoking the cultural and historical legacy of the ancient Silk Road, China is exploiting culture and heritage across six economic corridors spanning Asia, Europe and Africa as part of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative.
