(Re)framing contested heritage as shared: a possible scenario

Abstract

In post-conflict societies, the interpretation of the contested cultural heritage presents a complex challenge. The reason for this is the fact that heritage bearing traces of conflict, division, and denial is often marginalized or instrumentalized in processes of reconstructing social cohesion. Consequently, its role in building collective identity and sustainable peace remains insufficiently explored. With this in mind, this paper raises the question: how can heritage that divides us serve as a foundation for unity? The
theoretical framework of this study is based on a heritological approach, with particular reference to an anthropological perspective and human rights studies, which view heritage as a fluid entity subject to negotiation, translation, and reinterpretation through the interaction of different social narratives. The empirical part of the research is based on a case study conducted within an elective course on Heritage Technologies, carried out in 2024 at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. The focus of the investigation was on cultural mediation and the semantic reinterpretation of heritage in an educational context, with particular emphasis on the role of youth in these processes. Through the analysis of the results, this study demonstrates how contested heritage can be transformed into a common resource, creating space for collective appropriation and symbolic reconstruction of cultural memory, aimed at societal reconciliation.