WELFARE VS. MEMORY: POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION AND CULTURAL HERITAGE LOSS IN URBAN RECOVERY

During post-war reconstruction and urban renewal driven by welfare policies, contradictions in cultural heritage conservation persist as a critical concern. This study addresses the central question: How do post-conflict welfare policies contribute to cultural heritage loss, and what role do political ideologies and economic systems play in mediating this process? Using a qualitative multi-case study approach, this research triangulates archival data, interviews, and field observations across six cities-Jerusalem, Gaza, Nablus, Berlin, Beirut, and Baghdad-to examine how post-conflict welfare policies contribute to cultural heritage erosion. Key findings reveal that neoliberal commodification (Beirut) and territorial domination (Jerusalem) erase cultural memory, while grassroots agency (Nablus) and hybrid models (Berlin) reconcile heritage with recovery. The study underscores that heritage preservation succeeds only when aligned with institutional or grassroots priorities, as seen in Nablus community-led restoration efforts supported by NGOs. In contrast, neoliberal frameworks (Beirut) and authoritarian governance (Jerusalem) accelerate heritage loss, while hybrid models like Berlin’s critical reconstruction offer partial reconciliation.