W&L’s Silwal Publishes Article in Defence and Peace Economics Professor Shikha Silwal's paper discusses looting and destruction of cultural heritage sites and objects during epochs of violence.

By Taylor Meeker
January 21, 2022

Shikha Silwal, associate professor of economics at Washington and Lee University, has published a paper in Defence and Peace Economics (DPE) titled “The Economics of Looting and Destruction of Cultural Heritage Sites and Objects.”

Defence and Peace Economics (DPE) is an outlet of quality research in all aspects of the economics of defense, security, disarmament, conflict, and peace. It is a bimonthly peer-reviewed journal that attracts scholarly contributions from academics and practitioners worldwide.

Silwal’s study discusses a relatively understudied topic in economics: looting and destruction of cultural heritage sites and objects during epochs of violence.

According to Silwal’s abstract, “While economic literature on culture, cultural practices, and cultural institutions is long-standing, overlooked are the economic motivations for heritage (a material expression of culture) destruction, the economic consequences of the destruction, and potential policies for prevention from future destruction. Heritage objects during peace times turn into blood antiquities during violent conflicts. Illicit excavations in one country garnish museums in another.”

Silwal’s study also highlights prospects for future economic research and reiterates the unique opportunity cultural heritage reconstruction may provide for reconciliation in post-conflict countries.

Read Silwal’s full paper online.

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