MESOC Serapeum | Where culture meets AI

Id		845
Author		Moualla Y., McPherson G.
Title		Making change towards inclusive societies: The soft power of community archaeology in building cultural heritage in Mozan, Syria
Reference		Moualla Y., McPherson G.; Making change towards inclusive societies: The soft power of community archaeology in building cultural heritage in Mozan, Syria ;Sustainability (Switzerland) vol:11 issue: 17.0 page:
Link to article		https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071983080&doi=10.3390%2fsu11174670&partnerID=40&md5=166eeb18f798ce79ea1c69ada49fd183
Abstract		This paper investigates the soft power of community archaeology in transforming isolated and diverse communities into a more inclusive society, by reviewing community archaeology as a concept, and as a process, through the case of inclusive cultural heritage in Mozan, Syria. A theory of change underpinned key interventions in Mozan to track shifts in the social behaviour of locals from cultural isolation towards participation, partnership and inclusion, while investigating the process of establishing understanding, acceptance and mutual trust within communities. The research adopted an ethnographic study and used qualitative research methods. These relied primarily on direct observations and open ended, semi-structured and in-depth interviews with local communities, an archaeological mission and governmental and civic stakeholders involved in the area. The fieldwork research was informed by conducting a review of literature on the impact of culture and heritage in social contexts, social inclusion and cultural diplomacy. The paper demonstrates how the contribution of community archaeology in soft power change has assisted personal and community empowerment through inclusive cultural heritage on an individual level while strengthening social networks to mobilise the impact on the community as a whole. It reveals how such a project enhanced dialogue, increased awareness, and built and contributed to mutual understanding in order to support a shift in the harder area of symbolic community thinking and attitude, against a backdrop of conflict, war and isolation and builds the basis for inclusive cultural heritage tourism. © 2019 by the authors.

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Candidate transition variables
This model also allows for the promotion of inclusive cultural heritage, a new concept for some in archaeological circles. .
This can enhance the quality and capacity for dialogue. .
During this phase many stakeholders and partners came together to deliver a cultural base community development program in the area. .
This, in turn, led to sustainability of key communities and offers the potential for inclusive growth in cultural heritage and cultural tourism, post conflict. .
Strengthening the Sense of Belonging and Empowering Local Groups Engaging with community archaeology and heritage projects not only reinforces the need for communities to come together, it enhances the relationships. .
Such engagement in cultural activities has been found to result in: the gaining of new skills improved informal and formal learning, increased self-confidence, self-esteem and feeling of self-worth, the improvement or creation of social networks, an enhanced quality of life, the promotion of social cohesion, personal and community empowerment, and improvement of personal and local image, identity and wellbeing. .
Practically, we also found that art and culture policies that lead to community engagement, storytelling and exchange of cultural heritage can have lasting effects that can aid in conflict prevention and help grow the development of cultural heritage, especially as opportunities for women. .
We also found that those that utilised the long lasting traditions of arts and cultural production were able to help validate peoples stories (the intangible cultural heritage) and perspectives by bringing people together to discover shared goals and strength. .
Inspiring Social Action Another factor that can be at the core of shaping identity and a sense of belonging is the nature of the archaeological work as a process to produce heritage; therefore, people engaged in these practices are a focus of local cultures and traditions and often become more engaged in their communities which helps the inclusion practices through social connectedness, participation and partnership, which, in turn, empower the indicators of social inclusion like understanding, acceptance and mutual trust. .
It is clear that cultural participation can lead to the development and enhancement of many skills and competences. .
The paper demonstrates how the contribution of community archaeology in soft power change has assisted personal and community empowerment through inclusive cultural heritage on an individual level while strengthening social networks to mobilise the impact on the community as a whole. .
When communities are engaged with cultural activity, or, in this case, a heritage formation process through an archaeological project, this can help to increase communication and social skills. .
In the end, archaeological excavations have the power to transform a specific locally isolated geographical spot into a cultural heritage location with a lot of attention from different organisations. .
The aim of this program has been articulated by one of the program executives as Our goal was to put strategic outlines for cultural based community development that empower people to reshape their own cultural and inherited identity, people to become more actively responsible towards their cultural heritage, enhance their abilities to be able to protect their reach heritage and insure its sustainability as an important economic resource. .
Art and cultural engagement can play a positive role in raising peoples aspirations and making them aware of the opportunities that are available to them both within and outside their communities and this aligns well with developing soft power skills through the use of art and culture 31 . .
It reveals how such a project enhanced dialogue, increased awareness, and built and contributed to mutual understanding in order to support a shift in the harder area of symbolic community thinking and attitude, against a backdrop of conflict, war and isolation and builds the basis for inclusive cultural heritage tourism. .
Community archaeology as a figurative vehicle can empower individuals and communities as it supports creating cultural participation in people to come together, discuss their past, present and future in order to build the integrated bridges between who they are and who they want to become; reducing the risk of further conflict. .
The British Council report on Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth suggests that when communities are inclusive and bring people together in creating and protecting their own cultural heritage it also allows them to promote their cultural heritage, in cultural tourism terms, thus contributing to their own social and economic development 11 . .
This transformation has been driven by different reasons concerning the preservation of the archaeological sites and the civic engagement and the development agendas in the area of excavation. .
How an individual or local community creates meaning of the past can reshape perceptions of national collective meaning ties in with government cultural policies and international protection and promotion of heritage. .
In turn, the new products and tourists flowing to the area to see and consume their work achieves one of the objectives of the projects and demonstrates soft power change in action. .
It is useful to bring an evidence-based approach to scientific committees regarding decisions about the development of the archaeological work when used as a cultural heritage project as this can lead to better engagement with policy makers and help with further funding. .
They are enhancing awareness, knowledge, and discourse around the key issues identified above, and were able to confirm a shift in attitudes, an increased capacity, in skills, resources and status to engage in civic concerns, promote effective participation and action as well as improve systems and policies that ensure social justice and create a sustainable environment. .
For the archaeological mission this phase was important to build knowledge and experience as well as networks to reach the Eco-Archaeological Park to insure sustainability for both site conservation as well as tourism as a complete experience. .
Various individuals and groups can transcend barriers to be part of a collective memory, with a common past, present and future 4 and that is what interests others to visit and help contribute to the inclusive growth of cultural heritage. .
As for the impact of globalisation, there is a strong sense among some archaeologists and cultural diplomats that by including communities in the decision making process, through the meaning of either participatory or collaborative approach, they are helping to create a sense of heritage for that particular group, therefore, archaeologists can embrace the various and diverse histories found in any one place or community aiding the peace building process 4,25 . .
Therefore, heritage can be seen as a performance to underpin identity, particularly national identity. .
This close relationship and positive dynamic with the locals enabled Buccellati to understand the local needs and interests leading him to extend the archaeological vision to create an eco-archaeological park in the region aiming to safeguard the integrity of the place and participate in the sociocultural development of the region based on the local special characteristics, needs and skills. .
4. Conclusions This article demonstrates that mobilising a community archaeology project can be a useful soft power tool to support an inclusive process within isolated and diverse communities, leading to growth in tangible and intangible cultural heritage. .
The reason that culture is so precious is it assists in the role of aiding mutual understanding, tolerance and increasing resilience amongst community groups but also presents the opportunity for inclusion, personal and economic growth and sustainability in cultural tourism terms 17 . .
The fieldwork research was informed by conducting a review of literature on the impact of culture and heritage in social contexts, social inclusion and cultural diplomacy. .
For example, widening social networks, while supporting individual confidence in addition to integrating immigrant groups with its hosting societies. .
This process can broaden citizen voices and participation, offering a welcoming entry point to those who have not felt power in the civic realm before. .
Research Approach This case study approach tracks the shift in the social behaviour of the locals from isolation and indifference towards participation, partnership and inclusion and investigates the development of building understanding, acceptance and mutual trust within the communities there as objectives towards the long-term aim of integration through different interventions. .
The opportunity for social participation and its effects on the social fabric of the community is important, as it involves relational ties between individuals and society and individuals and the state. .
In projects that aim to achieve soft power outcomes, such as social change, mutual trust and understanding, etc., every group needs to feel included and be heard as part of the decision-making process, infrastructure and development. .

ARTICLE - CANDIDATE TRANSITION VARIABLES

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