ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the notion of development in its relation to cultural heritage, shedding light on four categories: (i) economic growth drivers, (ii) power, (iii) cognitive capitalism, and (iv) territory. This discussion is based on a bibliographic review and data analysis of the heritage sector and disaster risk management in Brazil. First, a brief introduction to disaster risk debates within development studies is provided, using the Pressure and Release (PAR) framework to point out some root causes and dynamic pressures which influence economic growth and impact cultural heritage. Then, we discuss the power imbalances to classify things, including natural, cultural, and mixed heritage. Finally, we discuss the concept of territory as a category that is the object of development models and where intangible and tangible heritage is usually expressed. The takeaway messages are: (a) SDG agenda has prioritised economic growth and avoids challenging the status quo, tolerating injustices of the past and several processes of cultural and territorial destruction in the name of development and progress; (b) the process approach proposed by the PAR Framework, which is used to understand the progression of vulnerability to disasters, can also be useful to analyse the threats or factors affecting the outstanding universal value of World Heritage properties highlighted by UNESCO; and (c) cultural heritage sector and civil protection have faced institutional vulnerabilities, especially at municipal level, where there is a lack of funding mechanisms and plans for the cultural sector, for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
