CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN. INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC FACTORS FOR A DISPARITY IN CLASSIFICATION BETWEEN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SHORES

The notion of heritage protection, which in the 19th century was given the task of protecting endangered sites and monuments by focusing on their contribution to identity, history and science, no longer has the same role today, given that the economic contribution made by the development and tourism of heritage has become the driving force behind the heritage protection process. It is in this context that an abuse of heritage (Monumental, as described by Régis Debray in his book 1999) [1] has emerged in Western societies. This (heritage factory, as described by Nathalie Heinich in her book 2010) [2] has led to heritage inflation, raising a number of issues in terms of management, maintenance and enhancement. This is perhaps the reason why the number of Italian cultural sites listed as world heritage exceeds the total number of cultural sites listed in the 8 countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. The aim of this study is to • Comparative study on the state of classification of cultural heritage between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean. • Synchronic study identifying the probable reasons for this disparity. • Case study (French colonial heritage in Algeria), explaining the impact of perception on the recognition of a heritage and, moreover, on its enhancement. 1. Debray. R. (1999). « L’abus monumental ». Edition Fayard, 464 p 2. Heinich. N. (2009). « La fabrique du patrimoine, de la cathédrale à la petite cuillère ». Maison des sciences de l’homme. Collection Ethnologie de la France. 286 p