EU cultural security law in an educational context

Abstract

Cultural security is a comprehensive notion that has gained much attention in the recent cultural heritage debates. In terms of the EU, it encapsulates cultural heritage destruction and protection in armed conflicts, post-war cultural heritage management, restitution, illicit traffic of cultural property, cultural diversity, and intercultural dialogue. The article aims to present how cultural security matters appear in the EU legal system and policy. The authors argue that cultural security is present in different policies regarding cultural property and the fight against illicit trafficking, as well as in EU external cultural relations. Digitization in the cultural sector constitutes a challenge, facilitates access to cultural heritage, and is an important tool for future cultural security. Therefore, EU law in the context of cultural security is analyzed. The authors took the Polish law as an example of how cultural security can be safeguarded while promoting an EU Member State’s jurisdiction. The paper’s educational part offers some ideas on creating and incorporating law and cultural security courses into varied higher education programs.