Cultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire: Negotiating Post-Colonial Returns (Routledge Studies in Culture and Development)

__C____ultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire__ analyzes the history of the negotiations that led to the atypical return of colonial-era cultural property from the Netherlands to Indonesia in the 1970s. By doing so, the book shows that competing visions of post-colonial redress were contested throughout the era of post-World War II decolonization. __Cultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire__ offers a new perspective on the international influence of the UNGA and UNESCO on the return debate. As such, the book will be of interest to scholars, students and practitioners engaged in the study of cultural property diplomacy and law, museum and heritage studies, modern European history, post-colonial studies and historical anthropology. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Figures Acknowledgements Introduction The Dutch colonial presence in the East Indies from 1595 Scholarly learning during the VOC and early colonial periods The question of post-colonial cultural property return Notes References 1 Colonial redress or post-colonial cooperation? The end of Dutch colonial rule in the East Indies, 1942-49 Colonial expansion and the influx of war booty to Dutch museums Imagining returns as a gesture of goodwill Tying returns to cultural cooperation in the future: the UN Round Table Conference draft cultural agreement Conclusion Notes References 2 Cultural diplomacy at a crossroads Hopeful, but not optimistic: cultural cooperation within the Netherlands-Indonesian Union Reconsidering Dutch cultural cooperation: the beginning of an independent policy Assessing the “disappointing” history of Dutch colonialism and the impossibility of a goodwill gesture in 1951 Rejecting the question in 1963, but resuming technical cooperation with the Republic of Indonesia Conclusion Notes References 3 Cultural relations as development aid The rise of Suharto: A new chance for an agreement on cultural cooperation Economic aid and technical assistance: the Netherlands as international aid donor The persistence of claims for returns Reframing notions of Dutch goodwill: cultural cooperation as development aid Alternate views of the new cultural diplomacy: diplomatic success or neocolonial failure? Conclusion Notes References 4 Returning cultural property Nurturing cultural diplomacy with the Suharto regime: the return of manuscripts and archives Reinforcing the narrative of goodwill: the return of objects from Dutch museums Rising activism within the UNGA and UNESCO: the ethics of post-colonial cultural property return The Dutch response to UNGA and UNESCO activism: an independent history of bilateral negotiation Conclusion Notes References 5 Post-colonial cultural property return debates since the 1970s Beyond the UNGA and UNESCO: post-colonial cultural property return debates in the United Kingdom The Parthenon Marbles debate and fears of “anti-Elginism” Nigerian claims for returns of the “Benin Bronzes” Recent publicity surrounding the “Benin Bronzes” President Emmanuel Macron: a new start to French cultural diplomacy with Africa? Dutch projects since the 1970s: a mirror of international change Historical anthropology and the quest to retrace the origins of colonial collections Critical responses to Dutch colonialism and the suspension of development aid to Indonesia in 1992 The end of the Suharto regime and beginning of the “Shared Cultural Heritage” concept in Dutch-Indonesian cultural diplomacy The consolidation of Dutch anthropology museums and the reversal of “cultural relations as development aid” The persistence of claims for historical justice and new understandings of post-colonial cultural diplomacy Conclusion Notes References Conclusion Notes References Index "Cultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire analyses the history of the negotiations that led to the atypical return of colonial-era cultural property from the Netherlands to Indonesia in the 1970s. By doing so, the book shows that competing visions of post-colonial redress were contested throughout the era of post-World War Two decolonization. Considering the danger this precedent posed to other countries, the book looks beyond the Dutch-Indonesian case to the 'Elgin (Parthenon) Marbles' and 'Benin Bronzes' controversies, as well as recent developments relating to returns in France and the Netherlands. Setting aside the 'universalism versus nationalism' debate, Scott asserts that the deeper meaning of post-colonial cultural property disputes in European history has more to do with how officials of former colonial powers negotiated decolonization, while also creating contemporary understandings of their nations' pasts. As a whole, the book expands the field of cultural restitution studies, and offers a more nuanced understanding of the connections drawn between post-colonial national identity making and the extension of cultural diplomacy. Cultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire offers a new perspective on the international influence of the UNGA and UNESCO on the return debate. As such, the book will be of interest to scholars, students and practitioners engaged in the study of cultural property diplomacy and law, museum and heritage studies, modern European history, post-colonial studies and historical anthropology"-- Provided by publisher Cultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire analyzes the history of the negotiations that led to the atypical return of colonial-era cultural property from the Netherlands to Indonesia in the 1970s. By doing so, the book shows that competing visions of post-colonial redress were contested throughout the era of post-World War II decolonization.Considering the danger this precedent posed to other countries, the book looks beyond the Dutch-Indonesian case to the “Elgin (Parthenon) Marbles” and “Benin Bronzes” controversies, as well as recent developments relating to returns in France and the Netherlands. Setting aside the “universalism versus nationalism” debate, Scott asserts that the deeper meaning of post-colonial cultural property disputes in European history has more to do with how officials of former colonial powers negotiated decolonization, while also creating contemporary understandings of their nations'pasts. As a whole, the book expands the field of cultural restitution studies and offers a more nuanced understanding of the connections drawn between postcolonial national identity making and the extension of cultural diplomacy.Cultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire offers a new perspective on the international influence of the UNGA and UNESCO on the return debate. As such, the book will be of interest to scholars, students and practitioners engaged in the study of cultural property diplomacy and law, museum and heritage studies, modern European history, post-colonial studies and historical anthropology.