In a recent article we have examined several peer reviewed articles written by a handful of professionals working at or on behalf of the core international institutions implementing the World Heritage Convention.

Thus they are researching the very system they are part and parcel of and can as such be classified as insider researchers.

With the help of coding we have explore the nature of the texts, addressing issues such as: Are the texts integrating academic heritage research and complying with academic standards such as source criticism and self-reflexivity? Are the texts primarily referring back to bureaucratic texts, principles and issues of their own community of practice?

Thus the article aims to contribute to raising awareness of the possible benefits and weaknesses of insider research within the World Heritage context.

The work has been conducted by Herdis Hølleland and Marit Johansson.

Read the article:  Hølleland, H. & M. Johansson 2017 ‘…to exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience’: on insider research and the World Heritage Convention. International Journal of Cultural Policy.

Read a blog post on Kulturminnebloggen (in Norwegian)