Until the 1960s of the twentieth century, it was generally thought that capital or financial means were the only factors that could enhance economic and business development. It is from the decade of the seventies of the same century when a series of transformations will change economic and social reality. In order to compete in an increasingly global economy, regions and cities strive to make optimal use of available resources. Thus, other resources begin to be incorporated into the economic system, which had been less explored until then, and acquire the consideration of capital goods understood in all its aspects: monetary, environmental, cultural, and human. In this way, heritage begins to be considered and valued as "a lever for sustainable development" (Mora Tenorio, 2016, p.96).
From this moment on, the interrelationship between cultural heritage and development from an integrative perspective has been embodied since then both in specific documents as well as in plans and programs of institutions and agencies at different levels: international and European, but also national and autonomous.
As could not be otherwise, UNESCO has been the main promoter of this idea through action programs such as those extracted from the Decade for Cultural Development (1987-97), which states that development processes should not only be directed towards technological and economic progress but also to the vital development of human beings, and therefore, as part of this, also to culture. Thus, the Inter-Governmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development (1998) also ratifies this, where UNESCO recognizes the capacity of both natural and cultural heritage as a resource for sustainable territorial development, promoting the inclusion of cultural factors in development policies (UNESCO, 1998. p. 15-16), among other objectives.
Following on an international level, more recently is the methodological manual of UNESCO Culture Indicators for Development (IUCD), in which seven dimensions (economy, education, governance, social participation, gender equality, communication and heritage) are proposed where culture contributes to development or, in other words, seven potentialities of culture in the development of current societies.
In the Spanish and Andalusian context, this idea of heritage as a resource for economic development of a territory is reflected in legislative texts (Law 16/1985, on Spanish Historical Heritage and Law 1/1991, on Andalusian Historical Heritage) that recognize in the heritage, besides its historical-artistic value, its social value. Likewise, we find references to this matter in documents such as the Foundation for a Charter on Heritage and Development in Andalusia (1996), where heritage is defined as a cultural resource, insofar as it is testimony of past or present times and includes recognizable identity traits by the population; social, because there is an intergenerational legacy component in its preservation and it should serve social purposes; and economic, given that it becomes a collective factor of economic development and potential wealth generator (Caravaca et al., 1997).
When we speak about heritage linked to collective development, that is, of a community, we refer to "heritage" as:
All those material and immaterial goods on which, like in a mirror, the population reflects to recognize itself, where it seeks an explanation of the territory where it is rooted and in which peoples succeeded each other. A mirror that the population offers to its guests to make itself understood, in respect for their work, behavior patterns, and identity.
G.H. Riviere, h.1970
Heritage is closely linked to the concept of identity, both individual and communal. Heritage is simultaneously a manifestation of ideas, traditions, knowledge, etc., of a population that has a common cultural development (hence the metaphor with the "mirror" reflecting who we are) and also a representation, subject to interpretation, in which one can recognize oneself as an heir. Likewise, understanding heritage as legacy leads to bridges being built from the present in both directions: towards the past, of which we are heirs, and towards the future, for whom we must preserve patrimonial goods.
However, for the relationship between cultural heritage and territorial development to be effective certain aspects must be fulfilled (Caravaca et al., 1997):
- Proper knowledge of the heritage is essential. This includes not only an inventory of goods but also a global and interrelated interpretation of them, as well as their understanding and inclusion as a basic resource in territorial planning.
- Cultural and natural heritage are inseparable elements. Furthermore, its character will be a conditioning factor for the territory and community, whose personality will be marked by landscape, population integration, and transformations linked to the relationship between humans and their environment.
- The human resources of the territorial area in question must have the necessary capacity and training to act with patrimonial goods. In this regard, protection and use of heritage will depend largely on how a collective values it but also whether there are resources available for its management, improvement, and enjoyment.
- Cultural heritage is a social resource and an economic resource, and both characteristics must be in balance. Understanding it from an economic perspective can lead to the creation of employment and innovative business initiatives as well as a push towards quality economic development. However, putting value on it economically should be done under criteria based on respect for the significance and symbolic content that heritage holds, and taking its maintenance principles as an unavoidable responsibility.
In conclusion, from the late decades of the twentieth century to the present day, once past extreme protectionist and conservative conceptions applied to heritage have been overcome, there has been a reinforcement of the value of heritage in its various typologies as an exceptional resource for community and territorial development (even as a resource against Spain's Demographic Challenge), expanding both its exploitation and benefits across multiple dimensions. Despite these efforts and many advances, cultural heritage is still not fully recognized as a potential source of wealth, although the new socio-economic context, where finding ways to generate employment and wealth is fundamental, continues to promote its recognition.
Bibliography
Caravaca Barroco, Inmaculada; Colorado Campos, David; Fernández Salinas, Víctor; Paneque Salgado, Pilar; Puente Asuero, Raúl; Romero Moragas, Carlos (1997) Cultural heritage, territory and public policies. The case of Andalusia. Regional Studies, (47), 143-160. Retrieved from: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=252401
Mayor Zaragoza, Federico (1988) Decade for Cultural Development, The Courier, 4-7. Retrieved from: https://es.unesco.org/courier/noviembre-1988#:~:text=In%20effect%2C%20in%201988%20the,United%20Nations%20and%20UNESCO.
Mora Tenorio, Manuel (2016) The Forgotten Heritage in the Rural World. Andalusia in History, (53), 96-97. Retrieved from: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=5582848
Andalusian Government. Foundation for a Charter on Heritage and Development of Andalusia.https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicios/publicaciones/detalle/78734.html
Cultural Policies: Stockholm Document 1998. Retrieved from: https://culturalrights.net/es/documentos.php?c=19&p=199
Sáez Pérez, Luis Antonio. (2019) Depopulation, development and culture: complicit triangle. Revista PH [online], (98), 70-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33349/2019.98.4511
UNESCO (1998) Inter-Governmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development: final report. Retrieved from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000113935_spa
UNESCO (2014) UNESCO Culture Indicators for Development. Methodological Manual.
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