ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the policy implications of decolonial heritage practices. It seeks to align International Cultural Relations (ICR) with the so-called New Diplomacy, which moves beyond traditional state-centric ideas in favour of emphasizing the role of ‘mid-space actors’ in bringing two or more sides together into a constructive relationship. These actors might be curators, artists, actors, musicians or citizens’ groups sharing a preoccupation with inter-cultural dialogue and what Luigi Di Martino has described as ‘active listening’. The chapter focuses on two examples: (1) a restitution case involving a set of bones taken from—and later returned to—the Aboriginal area of Australia’s Northern Territory and (2) recent efforts in Copenhagen to reimagine Denmark’s colonial history and heritage. These cases emphasize not simply the broader, non-state dimensions of New Diplomacy Studies but also the importance of mid-space actors in effecting meaningful changes in heritage practice and policy. Whether labelled ‘heritage diplomacy’ or ICR, international initiatives addressing past colonial entanglements need to be founded on trust and mitigate against unequal power relations between partners. This chapter advocates a holistic approach that recognizes the diverse ways knowledge is produced and consumed as the foundation for decolonial heritage practices, both inside and outside Europe.
