Co-creating the Meanings of World Heritage Sites with Migrations

This thesis explores the dynamic interrelationship between world heritage and migration with diverse world views. The study is designed to address the following research questions:

Decoding the nature of WHS: What is the value of WHS today, and how to diversify the interpretation of WHS by engaging migrations

Unmasking underlying Mechanism: How do WHS shape people’s self-identities and sense of belonging? How do power and politics fluctuate during the process?

Proposing Integration approaches: How to achieve the goal of improving inclusiveness and sustainability via learning from practices, changing concepts, facilitating conversations, and influencing policy?

In terms of theoretical framework, the worldview in this thesis inherits Kearney (1984)’s definition as a collection of mental images and notions about the world, forming from interaction and sensations with the environment. Within these interactions, existing universals and modes of conceptualisation encompass Self, Other, Relationship, Classification, Causality, Time, and Space. They are elements embodied in every culture (but means differently), constructing the basis to explore the cross-cultural model of wworldview Furthermore, he creates the dynamic World View Model that demonstrates the process of shaping and shifting world view and the interrelationship between individuals and the environment. Specifically, individuals living in a particular socio-cultural environment would precept and modifies the traditions. Social norms then structure one’s worldview and worldview, direct persons’ cultural behaviours and establish the underlying cultural symbols and projective systems. This model provides a holistic explanation of the interrelationship between people and the world, which could be the backbone of developing the world heritage and worldview model. The understanding and interpretation of world heritage come from individuals’ sensations and imaginative projection. World view plays a substantial role in engaging cultural events. Individual interpretations yield the meanings of heritages and meaning interpretation results from the dynamic shifting process of world views. Only by fulfilling the needs of meaning-making could individuals engage in the social event, and the heritage sectors can achieve the goal of integrating migration groups.

It employs a qualitative case study approach to understand the migration group’s perspective on world heritage comprehensively. The process could be defined into four phases:

1. Constructing research theory,

2. Creating engagement zone in world heritage sites,

3. In-depth interviewing migration groups.

4. Analysing and examining data.

This research’s mission aligns with UNESCO RILA Trail, which aims to foster integration through cultural expressions. It should be conducted in Scotland Sites in collaboration with management institutions, museums, and relevant charities. The achievement of this research could diversify the narratives of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail. This project plan to initiate at the following site:

1. The Antonine Wall: Collaborating with the Hunterian Museum and Emotive project to implement an emotional engagement approach.

2. New Lanark: Contacting New Lanark Trust to co-design a life experience engagement workshop.

3. Heart of Neolithic Orkney: Communicating with Historic Environment Scotland and organising an in-site visiting sensation engagement workshop.

This study examines migration engagement in WHS from the perspective of world views using three UNESCO designations in Scotland as actual models. The function of world view in migration group integration and multicultural values, the arguments of the dynamic nature and multicultural values of world heritage are included. Based on world view theory and empirical interviews, it suggests multicultural integration strategies and reforms in heritage practices, shifting the authoritative narrative to diverse voices by a proposing power-sharing approach.

The findings of this research should lead to a value framework for integrating migration groups in world heritage which allows more scholars to study community engaging heritage. Furthermore, the fieldwork experience could be defined as a set of methods then applied to enhance marginalised groups’ integration.

The Wider benefits are to deepen the connection of UNESCO RILA and world heritage and provide practical suggestions for policymakers. It is also expected to bring positive impact and social change by publishing a toolkit and holding workshops to generate resources, connect people, and ignite passion.