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Afkhami B. (2022). Symbolic Hegemony and Conflict of Cultural Heritage Assets. Parseh J Archaeol Stud. 6(20), 373-394. doi:10.30699/PJAS.6.20.373
URL: http://journal.richt.ir/mbp/article-1-543-en.html

Abstract
Cultural Heritage is the historical existence of a nation. Cultural heritage has internal, national and international functions and has intrinsic value. Among the most important values is “symbolic hegemony”. The symbolic value of cultural heritage and its transformation into cultural assets in the destination countries has made the superpowers think of acquiring the cultural assets of the countries, especially in the countries with rich cultural heritage, and has formed the “cultural assets conflict”. Cultural heritage is the symbol and manifestation of collective efforts of a nation in the context of time and storage of knowledge and ability of past generations. Therefore, cultural property and its diverse forms are like living beings that can always be restored/reconstructed and protected and have diverse and numerous uses for countries on a continuous basis; Superpowers by taking the cultural property and emptying these countries of cultural heritage; In fact, they drain the symbolic power of countries. Superpowers by taking the cultural property and emptying these countries of cultural heritage; in fact, they drain the symbolic power of countries. . The purpose of this article is to explain the values, especially the value of “symbolic hegemony” of cultural heritage. The theory of “symbolic hegemony and conflict of cultural assets” is a reflection of the story and cultural narrative of imperialism that has taken place around the country of Iran and countries with geo-cultural value. Considering cultural heritage as cultural assets and its geo-cultural values for a land; it is a special narrative type of cultural heritage that does not have much place in Iran’s cultural heritage literature.
Keywords: Cultural Asset, Hegemony, Symbol, Objectivity, Conflict.

Introduction
Today, the history of countries and nations is written based on cultural heritage. Cultural heritage includes a wide collection of tangible and intangible/movable and immovable property that include many places, events, oral and written history, and the lifestyle of people from the past to the present day. Cultural heritage and its diverse forms are the objective manifestation of the geo culture of a land that must always be restored and protected, and due to the possibility of communicating with the masses of people, they have the ability to be displayed and exposed in various places, such as museums or exhibitions, etc. The competition to gain the sphere of influence in the countries with cultural value is realized in different ways and with different means. Geopolitical competitions and the display of power are not achieved only through war and the destruction of modern facilities of a land; Rather, the destruction of the tangible manifestations of the cultural heritage of a land is one of the things that hegemonic countries always do to destroy the geographical values of lands with geopolitical and geo cultural value. Discrediting the cultural background of the target countries and destroying or downplaying the value of geo culture is done at a lower cost, which can be considered as one of the examples of “soft war”. This type of war provides the ground for the expansion of the hegemonic countries in the regions with geo-economic values by destroying the geo-cultural values. This type of approach and paradigm of colonial countries to destroy the geo cultural values that are manifested in cultural heritage can be put forward in the framework of the theory of “Symbolic hegemony and conflict of cultural heritage assets”.

Methodology
In fact, the present research presents a theory “symbolic hegemony and conflict of cultural assets” that, based on this; cultural heritage has been considered as cultural property, which can play a significant role in economic and geopolitical decisions of the country. Initially, it is compiled through library studies of the required information and then adapted to the cases that have been considered in the theory, first with information about the cultural heritage and values, and then in The case of countries that have been destroyed or extinct by American imperialism and the terrorist group of ISIL are cited, and then the theory of is explained.

Discussion
Globalization, emerging phenomena and social developments have increased the importance of cultural assets and day by day the protected of the cultural heritage of the countries in order to sustainable preservation for useable and different goals. The Theory” Symbolic hegemony and conflict of cultural heritage assets” which includes the basis of this article, Based on the conflict, some views have been presented; Destruction of cultural heritage in the Middle East and its protection and diversification in developed countries.  The number and abundance of objects and elements of cultural heritage is a sign of the continuity of civilization in a geographic area and territory, which the abundance of cultural assets is also a proof and objectivity of the spiritual heritage of a nation or country, including; Intelligence, genius and language are rich and... It has been proven today that nations with a strong language have been more civilized throughout history; because the multiplicity of cultural objects also expresses the richness of art and techniques. “Language” is also more complex in places where the number and frequency of cultural heritage elements are greater. For example, where they have lived a pastoral life, they have a simpler language. Every skill is an action. In places with a richer cultural heritage, the verb “to build” is used. Continuity in professions, especially economic professions, has led to skills, and skills have created treasures and knowledge. The location of the museum is the most significant example that can explain the above sentences. What do we see in museums? We actually see various goods of past times in museums. These diverse goods have a geographical origin and production; By the way, you have to think about their places of production. In the next step, the process of their production and the thoughts that designed and made them should be studied. Greece seems to have followed such a path. In Greece, when archaeological evidence, property of art and architecture were discovered, in addition to thinking about several objects and how to keep them; rather, a higher step was also taken, and that thought was about the thought of ancient Greece. A fundamental thought was done about the ancient Greek thought so that the postmodern philosophy was founded on the ancient Greek philosophy. Do archaeologists and cultural heritage custodians think about the places they discover? Is such an approach basically relevant in Iranian archeology literature? Unfortunately, Iranian archeology has not entered into these discussions based on the available written evidence; while basically the benefits of archeology lie in these kinds of discussions. Cultural heritage elements can produce method, technique and philosophy. The importance of the conflict over the acquisition of cultural assets lies in this point, this conflict started with the cover of some wars such as the war of “ISIS” in the region, and in the future, the “acquisition of the cultural assets of nations” will be a source of conflict between the powers.

Conclusion
The cultural heritage of each country is one of the most fundamental pillars of identity consolidation, creativity and national self-confidence. National identity is one of the dimensions of national power. National identity has many social, historical, geographical, cultural and political indicators. The cultural heritage as a symbolic hegemony, which if damaged or destroyed for any reason, That country or nation will lose its real power and there will be no concrete examples and objections to rebuild. Cultural heritage values are not due to their physical existence, but because of the thinking of their creators. The hidden and invisible values of the cultural heritage have pushed the superpowers into wars in the Middle East and probably brought the cultural property of the war-torn countries to the some museums. The cultural heritage is the objective crystallization of human thought that is of today’s contemporary use to society. Western superpowers have good learned to use the cultural heritage as assets. Consequently, wars were launched in the Middle East and sought to plunder the cultural heritage of war-torn countries According to the evidence and documentation, this paper presents the theory of “hegemony and the conflict of cultural property”. It is recommended “Cultural self-awareness” based on cultural heritage should be strengthened at the national and international levels. The powers to acquire the cultural heritage of nations, in addition to having economic and ideological goals in mind; Rather, they empty the nations that own cultural assets from symbolic rhetoric; Just like what ISIS did in Iraq and Syria, they destroyed the cultural heritage of these countries. Superpowers have targeted the existence of cultural heritage. If the “objectivity” of cultural heritage does not exist; Nations will not be able to have an authentic and ontological interpretation of life. Cultural assets, as the cultural wealth of nations and countries, reveal the inner and essential interpretation of nations in the context of time. If the elements of cultural heritage are not available, in addition to the fact that the people of the countries will not be able to interpret the technology and the rational and ontological interpretation and find the path of life in interaction with nature, they will also lose the knowledge and ability of the past.