Diana Rahman

This PhD research aims to explore the impact of socio-economic and cultural changes on the Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Values of a World Heritage Site.

Thesis title: Understanding the interrelationship between change, authenticity, and outstanding universal values, and its implication on the management of World Heritage Sites: The Case of Subak Cultural Landscape, Indonesia.          

Primary supervisor:  Dr. Kalliopi Fouseki
Secondary supervisor:  Dr. Michael Short
Starting date:  September 2016
Projected completion date:  September 2020

Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Values are two of the most important components of World Heritage Sites and the basis of world heritage site management plans. Taking into account that changes in heritage sites are inevitable and development of local communities around heritage sites is often one of the main objectives of heritage related activities, this PhD research aims to explore the impact of socio-economic and cultural changes on the Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Values of a World Heritage Site. A case study of Subak Landscape in Bali, Indonesia, has been chosen as this site contains an example of an evolving cultural landscape where the communities also encounter social change ranging from livelihood to traditional practices of rice farming. This research will attempt to explore whether changes occurring on this cultural landscape and which are considered to be a degrading factor for Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Values really contribute to the loss of values that local communities have been inherited for thousand years.