Vol. 28 (2025): Culture Crossroads
This special issue brings together selected papers from the international symposium “Naming / Norming: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)”, which explored the processes of designation and qualification of ICH through a multidisciplinary lens. The event gathered scholars and professionals in anthropology, ethnology, law, communication, and heritage studies to examine how academic and expert practices contribute to shaping and regulating ICH. Drawing on testimonies from individuals directly involved in the drafting and implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the safeguarding of ICH, the issue analyses key notions such as community, participation, transmission, and renewal. It highlights how naming processes shape the normative frameworks of ICH safeguarding and reflects on the evolving role of researchers in this field. Through historical insights and contemporary perspectives, the contributions offer a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the regulation and practice of ICH today.
