Beyond Colonial Narratives: Indonesia’s Efforts to Revive the Spice Route (Jalur Rempah) as a Cultural Route Heritage

Known as a spice producer country, Indonesia possesses a wondrous history of spice routes. Some intricate patterns of woven textile and the wax-resist dyeing Batik textile, as the evolutionary textile arts across centuries, describe the story of spice and its importance for the local community in many spice regions. This paper identifies Indonesian cultural routes with strong history spice cultivation, characterized by the presence of their textile heritage. This study provides an in-depth analysis on the context of developing Indonesian sustainable cultural routes, by considering the valorization of textile heritage and spice culture as the element of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in the direction of sustainable tourism and heritage preservation. The creation of digital technologies, cultural hubs of textile and culinary, as well as thematic tourism, offers on spice routes are discussed, all in the framework of addressing the overarching community goals and the sustainable rural tourism development.

PurposeThis study explored the three roles of Makassar in advancing the archipelago's spice routes: port growth arrangement, maritime policy, and maritime trade management in the XVI—XVII centuries.MethodThis study used historical research methods including heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The sources of data used were local sources (lontara) and foreign sources (Portuguese, Dutch, and English) to answer the three problems mentioned above by placing Makassar as the subject of the Nusantara spice route.Results/FindingsThe results of the study are: 1) the port growth arrangement the Makassar authorities did was by responding to the global trade dynamics around the spice route, such as focusing on structuring its ports as the centre of the Maluku spice trade. Second, maritime policy was implemented through free ports and the principle of Mare Liberum to advance Makassar to become an entrepot and a cosmopolitan world city. Third, the codification of Ammana Gappa's shipping and trade laws in Makassar further strengthens the maritime identity of the Makassarese, Bugis, and Mandar people in building the spice route of the Archipelago.ConclusionStarting from the perspective of the archipelago as a subject, this study shows the role of Makassar in promoting the spice route. Studies like this can also be developed at other ports on the spice route, thereby strengthening the archipelago's contribution to the history of the world's spice routes.

Responsible tourism practices promote the idea that responsibility refers to both visitors and local communities, ensuring the protection and conservation of the natural environment and cultural heritage and contributing to a better quality of life. The role of “sustainability” in a tourist development strategy is to protect and reveal what already exists (“reuse, recycle, renovate”) rather than consume. In these terms, cultural routes can serve as valuable tourism assets that can attract visitors and generate economic activity, while protecting the environmental and cultural heritage. This study is focused on Symi, a small and remote Greek island better known as a religious tourism destination, examining how cultural routes could be at the core of an economic development and social cohesion strategic plan. Symi served as a case study due to the island’s rich cultural and natural heritage, including historic buildings, natural attractions, monuments, and archaeological sites. The revealing of those assets is crucial for the advancement of an integrated local strategy for cultural tourism in terms of responsible tourism. The primary objective of this study is to analyze how the development of a cultural routes network, integrating monuments from diverse historical periods, significant religious sites, and areas of significant architectural and environmental value, can contribute to a responsible tourism approach and further a sustainable development that generates multiple benefits for the local community in an insular region.

The main subject of the study is revealing “cultural routes”, by the evaluation of ancient roads which have cultural accumulation on and around them. Considering the unique character of cultural routes, their formation as a consequence of cultural accumulation in a region is the main objective of the project. The project aims to explore the basic principles of cultural route planning and management in regard to the values of historic, natural, rural, modern and archeological components of cultural accumulation and cultural landscapes. Means that can be used to conserve and sustain their specific character are sought. In doing this, the study is structured in two main parts. It both covers a theoretical framework of conceptual principles and a case study. In the first part, together with the development process of the cultural route concept with different definitions and classifications stated by researchers and organizations the study mainly discusses the principles of cultural route planning and management. In the second part, based on the theoretical research, the process from a road to a cultural route is reviewed through a case study together with its planning and management principles. As the case study of the study, the ancient road between Milas and Labraunda is selected since it has a potential of transformation to a cultural route. Assessing its areas rich in cultural, historical and natural heritage together with the archaeological, architectural and local values, the work is finalized by a spatial cultural route model.

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the representation of the images of the first ladies of Middle Eastern countries, using Jordan as an example, in global media. It focuses on the mechanisms of constructing their public image as a tool of soft power and diplomacy, including self-presentation strategies, media narratives, and visual representations in key contexts of their activities: state visits, public speeches, and the implementation of social projects, particularly in the fields of education, women's initiatives, and healthcare, as well as in promoting national cultural heritage and fashion. It analyzes how international English-language media shape perceptions of these political figures, considering key aspects of their roles—patronage of educational and women's initiatives, cultural mediation, promotion of national heritage and fashion—and identifies dominant stereotypes and their impact on cross-cultural perceptions of the region. The study is based on discourse analysis of materials from international media outlets: The New York Times, BBC, and CNN. The analysis includes visual and digital content, allowing the tracing of the evolution of media images and their role in public diplomacy. The methods used in this work include case studies, discourse analysis, content analysis, media profiling, visual analysis, and comparative analysis. This research significantly contributes to the scientific understanding of the phenomenon of first ladies in the Middle East, uncovering fundamentally new aspects. It systematizes the deep historical roots of their political influence, convincingly refuting stereotypes about the complete exclusion of women from the sphere of power in the region. Additionally, the research developed a typology of resilient media frames (such as "Modernizer" and "Guardian of Traditions") used by leading Western media and analyzed the mechanisms of constructing these often polarized images. Key findings confirm that first ladies are significant actors of soft power. Their activities in the areas of charity, support for education, and cultural mediation have a substantial impact on shaping the international perception of the entire region of the Middle East. However, the analysis shows that their media representations often suffer from distortion and stereotyping. Therefore, a fundamentally important conclusion is the necessity for the countries in the region to develop strategies aimed at ensuring more objective and balanced coverage of the activities of first ladies in global media.

This study explores the integration of socio-cultural dimensions into Indonesia's maritime defense strategy, focusing on strengthening maritime identity and archipelagic community resilience. It aims to examine multifaceted aspects of maritime identity, identify traditional practices and resilience mechanisms, analyze preservation challenges, explore existing integration efforts, and develop a comprehensive socio-cultural framework for maritime defense. Employing a qualitative, exploratory approach with literature study as the primary data collection method, the research analyzes academic journals, books, and policy documents through thematic analysis and synthesis. Key findings reveal the multifaceted nature of Indonesia's maritime identity, encompassing historical, economic, social, and ecological dimensions. The study highlights the rich traditional ecological knowledge and resilience mechanisms of island communities, including sustainable resource management practices, adaptation strategies, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Challenges such as urbanization, environmental degradation, cultural erosion, and socioeconomic inequality threaten the preservation of maritime identity and community resilience. The research also identifies existing initiatives successfully integrating socio-cultural elements into maritime strategies, such as community-based monitoring and participatory decision-making processes. The study concludes that Indonesia's maritime strength is intrinsically linked to its socio-cultural heritage and the resilience of its island communities. Integrating these elements into maritime defense strategies can enhance effectiveness, sustainability, and community engagement while preserving cultural identity. The proposed framework offers a holistic approach to maritime defense that harmonizes technological advancement with cultural preservation and community empowerment. This approach recognizes the symbiotic relationship between strategic planning, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable development, paving the way for a more robust and culturally sensitive maritime defense strategy for Indonesia.

PurposeHeritage landmarks and historical values often coexist with places and regions of remarkable environmental and landscape wealth. This article studies their capacity to generate global understanding of their territory through the creation of cultural routes. The proposed methodology is verified through the study of the defensive features of the ancient Nasrid Kingdom, the last Islamic territory in the Iberian Peninsula from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, which shaped the Spanish region known as the Kingdom of Granada until the nineteenth century.Design/methodology/approachTo assist in the proposal of new routes, a precise collection of physical data (topography, landmarks, resources, population centres …), existing public paths and protected natural sites was carried out. Those cultural routes relevant to the area of study were also selected and mapped through GIS. A set of indicators prioritised through an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) have evaluated the proposed itineraries.FindingsThe methodology enables the integral evaluation of parameters such as natural heritage, existing paths networks, defensive architectural heritage (watchtowers), existing cultural routes or proximity to basic services. The methodology's application allows an index to be obtained that quantifies the global implications of these parameters in the design of new itineraries. This leads to the development of a network with its own narrative that provides a historical, environmental and cultural meaning.Originality/valueWatchtowers in this region have previously been studied as isolated and locally relevant architectural features. This work studies them from an overall perspective, considering each tower as a piece of a complex defensive and territorial system. Cultural routes arise from this joint interpretation as tools to restore and highlight the interrelationship between architectural heritage and territory and people.

Europe offers a wide variety of cultural itineraries that, crossing several regions or countries, provide a living example of the rich and impressive European common heritage. For more than two decades 24 of such itineraries have been jointly collaborating under the Council of Europe's (CoE) Cultural Routes Programme aimed at preserving the diversity of European culture and heritage, and to promote understanding of Europe's history. Today, when cultural heritage is more and more often viewed as a new form of good -cultural good, - methods of heritage management are changing to incorporate new elements, which could help local communities to draw more obvious benefits from their cultural legacy while preserving and maintaining its uniqueness. Often these elements come from tourism: a new kind of tourism, which is respectful of the environment, of the natural and cultural heritage and of the local traditions. This article offers an overview of the Study on the CoE Cultural Routes Impact on Tourism SMEs (Khovanova et al., 2011) that demonstrated how the need for implementing sustainable tourism management practices is growing within the CoE cultural routes. One of the breaking findings of the Study was that, even though founded on social and cultural principles, CoE routes today serve as a source of innovation, small business creation, local income generation, and cultural tourism products development. These potentials are now been reinforced by building in sustainable tourism elements in cultural routes management practices, and by bringing the benefits of ICT and digitalization, following the Study recommendations. The findings of the Study could also help cultural heritage managers and policy makers around the globe to better understand tourism potential of cultural heritage sites, while encouraging respectful and sustainable management approaches.

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine an experimental neo-Herbartian and Frobelian curriculumWork in the kindergarten: An Australian programme based on the life and customs of the Australian Blackpublished by Martha Simpson in 1909.Design/methodology/approach– The paper uses both primary and secondary sources to understand the context of production and reception of the settler narratives advocated for use in the curriculum. Simpson's curriculum and other primary literary texts provide case study examples.Findings– The research found that colonial and imperial literary texts provided a departure point for learning activities, enabling the positive construction of white Australian identity and the supplantation of Aboriginal people in a post-federation kindergarten setting.Originality/value– By considering the role of imperial and colonial narratives in post-federation experimental curriculum, this paper offers insight into the role such narratives played in the formation of Australian national identity.

The Cultural Routes Programme of the Council of Europe, launched in 1987, is a journey through space and time uniting European citizens through cultural diversity and shared values. Its mission is to protect cultural and natural heritage, to promote intercultural dialogue and a common European identity. To date, 48 European cultural routes have been certified, yet Bulgaria's presence on this pan-European cultural map is notably absent. This report explores the country's potential to actively join the Programme and problematizes the need for common and coordinated efforts between state and local authorities in partnership with business and research centres to better integrate, preserve and socialise Bulgaria's tangible and intangible cultural heritage at European level.

The fruitful conjugation of two factors (Romania’s EU accession on 1 January 2007 and the fact that there is a large number of cultural and tourist landmarks in Dobrudja) led to the implementation of various national or cross-border cultural and tourist programmes. Museum of National History and Archeology, Constanta, depositary of a valuable cultural heritage, was partner in numerous such projects, among which a significant part was dedicated to promoting various national or cross-border cultural routes. Despite the generous and comprehensive concept, many of these cultural routes have fallen into oblivion, soon after the project was finished. We may mention here routes that included religious landmarks, art monuments or historic and archaeological monuments, many of them being unique in the country or in SE Europe (Roman Edifice with Mosaic in Constanta, the Monastic Cave Complex from Basarabi-Murfatlar, Triumphal Monument at Adamclisi). Most of the projects implemented in Dobrudja, either with European or with national funding, were based almost exclusively on promoting the cultural and natural heritage and not on finding solutions to the fundamental problems of this region. Present paper aims to identify the causes of this situation and possible solutions to revitalize these cultural routes in order to achieve the initial goals: promoting the historic and archaeological heritage and increasing the benefits for local communities. For an efficient tourism, it is not enough to create mere touristic routes, to highlight points of interest on a map, as long as the reality on the ground does not meet the expectations of the ones interested. Discovery of monuments and points of interest have a positive effect only as long as a contribution it is made to their preservation and protection. In this case, it does not suffice only to promote, but also to preserve the cultural heritage for sustainable exploitation from a cultural, touristic and economic point of view. As curators, we have approached this case study by observing the contribution of historic and archaeological landmarks on the efficiency of this type of projects. In order to do so, we have collected data about the 16 cultural projects, in which our institution was involved, either as applicant, partner or just subject of the project.

The Roman Limes, the former natural border of the Roman Empire, has been recognized as a cultural landscape with exceptional universal values of international importance by the relevant organization for the protection of cultural and natural heritage - UNESCO. The Danube River is an integral part of the Roman Limes, a testimony to the culture and traditions of the peoples who lived on the banks of the Danube, as well as cultural heritage in general. Within the part of the Danube River that passes through the Republic of Serbia, the Djerdap segment stands out. It includes sites of different historical periods (prehistoric, ancient and medieval) and is significant cultural heritage on an international level. However, most of the sites are underwater as a result of the construction of the Djerdap Hydroelectric Power Plant. Consequently, insufficient access to its cultural heritage has led to its insufficient presentation and promotion, but also a lack of information about the existence of the cultural heritage. Therefore, the main goals of this paper are to spread knowledge about Djerdap's cultural and natural heritage, to promote its importance, to identify potential for integrating the cultural heritage into contemporary trends through the affirmation of cultural routes, and to establish sustainable development of the cultural landscape. The results of the research are presented through an urban architectural project that represents the sublimation of critical attitudes formed with regard to the protection, presentation and promotion of cultural heritage. The project draws from a literature analysis, case studies and examples of good practice relevant to the research. The expected results of the research include raising awareness of the importance of Djerdap's cultural heritage through promoting a cultural route and forming a potential model for the use of its cultural heritage in the process of establishing sustainable development of the cultural landscape.

Despite the promulgation of the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972, widely lauded for being the first international convention to include natural and cultural heritage, the separation of cultural and natural heritage persists. Equally, within the top-down ‘authorised’ global and national heritage systems, the values of the elite and powerful continue to be emphasised while the understanding of heritage by the general public is often downplayed or ignored. This paper analyses the travel journals of tourists who have recently visited the 拙政园 (Humble Administrator’s Garden), China, in order to explore visitor understanding of the cultural and natural values of this World Heritage listed place. The findings indicate that tourists’ experiences are connected to their personal memories, feelings and emotions in ways that integrate cultural and natural heritage meanings and values. Such interconnected ‘naturecultures’ experienced by individual tourists, we argue, is more emotional and powerful than the official UNESCO and state-sanctioned narrative.

The actuality of the study is stipulated by the need to establish appropriate facilities for the humanitarian advancement of the country, to form a favourable cultural space for the disclosure of the personal creative potential of each citizen on the basis of substantiation of priority humanitarian strategies in culture. The aim of the research is to identify the peculiarities of humanitarian strategies in culture as factors in the formation of the most relevant trends in the in the ongoing development of the modern Ukrainian cultural space. Research methods: method of theoretical analysis comparative method, system method, method of generalisation. The main results of the study are that, from the theoretical standpoint of cultural knowledge, the concept of ‘humanitarian strategies in culture’ is interpreted as priority areas of humanitarian and cultural development, which are specified by defining the goals, methods, mechanisms and tools for their implementation, aimed at revealing human creativity, forming human capital for creating a creative cultural space. The humanistic nature of the content of art education, its focus on the comprehensive development and creative potential of society is substantiated. It is determined that the actualisation, protection and restoration of the national cultural heritage is a key factor in the formation of national identity. The process of knowledge, research, preservation and restoration of the national cultural heritage is an important humanitarian strategy in culture. Cultural diplomacy is an important resource for the humanisation of culture, an effective tool for establishing intercultural communication among the main agents – artists from different countries, creative teams, civil society institutions, and the expert community. The creative industries are a platform for the country’s economic recovery. The importance of certain humanitarian strategies in culture for the creation of an innovative, competitive Ukrainian cultural space in the post-war recovery of the country is proved. Through innovation and the introduction of the latest technologies, a creative humanitarian space can be formed based on common cultural and humanistic values

The purpose of the study is to conduct a comprehensive study of the scientific activity of Filaret Kolessa as the founder of Ukrainian ethnographic museology and to analyze his contribution to the preservation of the national cultural heritage. Research methodology. The research used general scientific methods (generalization, comparison, induction and deduction), applied the historical-biographical method to analyze the life path of Filaret Kolessa, as well as empirical-theoretical methods (analysis, synthesis) to systematize the scientific works of Filaret Kolessa, content analysis for studying scientific texts, and source analysis for archival materials research. Results. The results of the study showed that Filaret Kolessa played a key role in the formation of Ukrainian ethnographic museology. It has been established that his scientific expeditions and research into folk music contributed to the preservation and popularization of the rich cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people. It was found that F. Kolessa developed methods of collecting, systematizing and analyzing ethnographic materials, which became the basis for the further development of Ukrainian ethnomusicology. It was established that the works of F. Koless had a significant impact on the formation of national identity and the preservation of cultural heritage, especially in the context of researching the musical traditions of Lemkivshchyna, Boykivshchyna and Transcarpathia for the collection of folklore material. It is worth noting that thanks to the activities of F. Koless, a significant number of Ukrainian folk songs were collected and published, which have been preserved in the archives and continue to be studied by modern scientists. Based on the analysis, it can be stated that F. Kolessa's contribution to the creation and development of museums and archives with ethnographic materials is important for the cultural heritage of Ukraine, which confirms his status as the founder of Ukrainian ethnographic museology. Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, we can note that Filaret Kolessa played a central role in the formation of Ukrainian ethnographic museology and preservation of the national cultural heritage. It was established that the activity included not only the systematization and preservation of Ukrainian folklore, but also the active implementation of scientific approaches to ethnographic research, which became the basis for the development of modern museology in Ukraine.