Podcast Summary:

New Books Network — "Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration in Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones"
Episode Published: Nov 8, 2025
Host: Piot Pietzak
Guest: Professor Emilia Alaverdov (co-editor; David Avashembelli University of Georgia)
Book: Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration in Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones (IGI Global, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the urgent and multidimensional challenges of protecting and restoring cultural heritage in conflict and post-conflict zones, focusing on the experiences of Georgia and Ukraine. Professor Emilia Alaverdov discusses the motivation behind the book, its collaborative nature, and key insights across its many chapters. The conversation explores international law, digital preservation, agrotourism, public diplomacy, the difficulty of post-war economic recovery, and the roles played by global institutions and civil society. The tone is scholarly yet urgent, empathetic, and practical, with the underlying message that collective action and innovation are essential in safeguarding humanity’s shared heritage.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Genesis and Motivation for the Book

• Current Relevance: In a world “facing lots of conflicts” (05:08), wars threaten not only people but their cultural heritage, which often becomes an afterthought until the shooting stops.
• Gap in the Literature: Prof. Alaverdov found little existing scholarship on post-conflict cultural restoration, prompting her to build a diverse, multinational edited volume with numerous chapters covering legal, political, economic, and technological aspects.

2. Protection of Heritage Under Occupation (Georgia’s Case)

• Divided Responsibilities: The initial chapters detail Georgia’s efforts under occupation. Legal, historical, and political analyses combine to reveal that, “we try to do [heritage protection] somehow in a remote mode, to tell the truth, but it’s not enough.” (07:16)
• Need for Cooperation: Georgia lacks capacity to act alone, and “we are calling for engaging international cooperation.” (07:16)

3. Intellectual Property (IP) as Soft Power Tool

• Strategic Use of IP: According to contributor Miranda Gurgeniza, leveraging IP can foster “cultural resilience, economic renewal, cultural diplomacy, national brand, and global engagement.” (08:37)
• International Platforms: Using IP strategies at international forums can provide a protective ‘light’ for national heritage.

Memorable quote:

“All these can be just using IP strategically in international platforms... give us a kind of light to protect our heritage.” — Prof. Alaverdov, (08:37)

4. Russian Invasions & Violation of International Law

• Legal Framework: Russian actions in Georgia (2008) and Ukraine (2022) “really violated all international laws,” notably the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property. (10:02)
• Broader Impact: Not only are lives lost, but UNESCO monuments and the “architecture of national sovereignty” are also targeted.

5. Global and European (In)action in Response to Aggression

• Regret over Missed Warnings: If Europe had listened to “Putin’s Munich speech, 2007,” subsequent conflicts “wouldn’t have happened.” (11:58)
• Critique: Western nations “start shifting to some other problems” instead of addressing looming threats, which led to more unchecked aggression.

Memorable quote:

“If they listened to him carefully, not Georgia, not Ukraine, not Crimea will happen really.” — Prof. Alaverdov, (11:58)

6. Shifting Neutrality and Security Norms

• Problem of Inaction: Europe’s neutrality is critiqued (“stay neutral means do nothing”) and seen as inadequate in today’s altered security landscape (13:59).
• Evolving Definitions: The book explores how states are compelled to refine neutrality in response to identity and security challenges.

7. Digital Tools for Heritage Preservation

• Virtual Museums/3D Archives: Digital platforms are embraced as secondary, yet increasingly crucial, means of preservation and education—especially when physical access is denied by occupation. (15:04)
• Challenges: Implementation is hindered by “need for resources, we need fundings.” (15:04)

8. International Organizations and Missions

• Limited Effectiveness: Global bodies like the UN/EU are, so far, largely limited to “recording” violations; substantive restorative action is lacking due to competing priorities and insufficient resources. (18:18)

Memorable quote:

“United nations also do not have so many projects for this. As I told. We have some peacekeepers and they record what happened. Oh, they violate. Okay, let’s only record it. And nothing.” — Prof. Alaverdov, (18:18)

9. Role of Universities in Recovery and Diplomacy

• Awareness-Raising: Universities organize workshops, virtual tours, and platforms for “cultural diplomacy and citizen diplomacy.” (19:07)
• Bridge-Building: Initiatives aim to engage students from both sides of a conflict, fostering long-term cultural bonds.

10. Artificial Intelligence: Promise and Pitfalls

• Current Limitations: AI is “very new and challenging… we cannot rely on AI” due to accuracy issues and misrepresentation. (20:51)
• The Hope: Continued development is needed, but “for the moment it is not very helpful.” (20:51)

11. Public Companies and Heritage Funding

• Financial Gaps: Private sector involvement is limited; “public companies… are also very passive, unfortunately.” (23:56)
• Needs: More targeted investment and mission-driven funding, rather than support for “unreal projects.”

12. Agrotourism for Recovery and Preservation

• Holistic Benefits: Developing the agricultural sector supports not just economies but also cultural identities and post-war recovery. Agrotourism “catches the cultural elements and be aware and be familiar with cultural elements through agrotourism.” (25:21)
• Current Issues: Georgia’s lands are underused as people leave for work abroad; greater emphasis on local agriculture is needed, possibly inspired by international models.

Memorable quote:

“If we develop agro sector, we will develop agrotourism as well... From this agrotourism we can just catch the cultural elements.” — Prof. Alaverdov, (25:21)

13. Sacred Sites and Religious Tourism

• Vulnerability and Opportunity: Sacred sites drive regional economies via religious tourism, but are at risk of neglect/destruction. (28:29)
• Cross-sector Involvement: Restoration benefits religious institutions and broader society.

14. Economic Stability as a Foundation for Heritage Recovery

• Obstacle of Instability: Post-war countries struggle to attract investors due to “security threats,” hampering economic and thus cultural recovery. (30:36)
• Sequence of Priorities: Survival and rebuilding of people come first, but heritage follows closely in the process.

15. Building an International Scholarly Network

• Collaborative Spirit: Prof. Alaverdov’s books are born from “word of mouth” and her ability to create a “friendly manner” of cooperation, attracting contributors from 10-15 countries in each volume. (34:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the book’s genesis:
  “Why not create such kind of book projects? And really we had very, very many chapters… and totally recreated the book.” (05:08)

• On missed warning signs:
  “If they listened to him carefully, not Georgia, not Ukraine, not Crimea will happen really.” (11:58)

• On international organizations:
  “We have some peacekeepers and they record what happened. Oh, they violate. Okay, let’s only record it. And nothing.” (18:18)

• On digital preservation:
  “We can show them digitally… We can give them access to museum… But for this we need resources, we need fundings.” (15:04)

• On agrotourism as recovery:
  “If we develop agro sector, we will develop agrotourism as well… From this agrotourism we can just catch the cultural elements.” (25:21)

• On the limits of AI:
  “We cannot rely on AI… for the moment it is not very helpful.” (20:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction to Book/Guest Background — 02:37–05:08
• Project Genesis & Literature Gap — 05:08–06:55
• Georgia’s Heritage Protection Under Occupation — 06:55–08:28
• Intellectual Property as Soft Power — 08:28–09:35
• International Law & Russian Invasions (Georgia/Ukraine) — 09:35–11:31
• European Response & Missed Warnings — 11:31–13:42
• Neutrality and Security Norms — 13:46–14:36
• Digital Heritage Tools in Restoration — 14:36–16:44
• International/UN Interventions — 16:44–18:53
• Universities’ Role in Public Diplomacy — 18:53–20:18
• AI and Heritage Safeguarding — 20:18–22:03
• Public Companies & Funding — 23:36–24:53
• Agrotourism and Recovery — 24:53–27:33
• Sacred Sites and Geopolitics — 27:33–29:49
• Economic Stability for Heritage Recovery — 29:50–32:56
• Building the Book's International Scholarly Network — 32:56–34:43
• Multicultural Group Nonprofit & Academic Networking — 34:43–36:45
• Future Projects & Closing — 36:45–39:21

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of Cultural Heritage Protection and Restoration in Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones, blending practical insights, policy critique, and optimism about the power of international cooperation. It is especially recommended for policy makers, academics, business investors, and anyone interested in the intersection of culture, conflict, and recovery. Prof. Alaverdov’s reflections, both critical and constructive, capture the daunting realities but also the hope fueled by cross-border scholarly and civic collaboration.