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“Why Development Needs Culture” 
Abstract from 
Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
 
Vol. 1, No. 1, 2011
Purpose 
The purpose of this paper is to account for and to justify the UN’s recent appeal to “all Member States, 
intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system and relevant non-governmental 
organizations […] to ensure a more visible and effective integration and mainstreaming of culture in 
development policies and strategies at all levels”.
Design/methodology/approach 
The paper delves into the history of ideas leading up to the UN’s belated recognition of culture’s 
influence (a full ten years into the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)). It 
shows how the post-Second World War intuitions embraced in UNeSCO’s Constitution matured in the 
course of the nation-building and decolonization processes that have given way to today’s context of 
advanced globalization.
Findings 
Against that background, rising international awareness of the issues involved in the environment-
development nexus conspired with growing concern for the safeguarding of world heritage and 
cultural diversity, finally culminating in the establishment of specific international standards that call for 
sustainable, integrated approaches to development.
Originality/value 
Drawing from UNeSCO’s experience, the paper provides compelling evidence in support of the idea that 
culture, creative industries and cultural heritage contribute a great deal to development, in terms not only 
of quantitative economic growth (income, employment), but also of qualitative standards of equity and 
well-being. In light of such criteria, examples are offered and plans are laid out for concerted action in 
view of attaining the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 and of building on from there. 
Cultivating sustainable tourism in emerging parts of the world is never an easy feat, but whether it’s 
Nepal or Nevada, communities that work to create inclusiveness and build trust will never go wrong. 

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