MonTREP/TSC Spring Antiquities Trafficking Conference: "Culture in the Crossfire"

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, its terrorism research center MonTREP, and the Terrorism Studies Club are pleased to announce a topical conference that will address the phenomena of antiquities looting and trafficking, as well as its and its associated financing of terrorist groups and support for extremist ideology.

This discussion is for multi-disciplinary panelists with expertise in the following fields: cultural heritage and the illicit antiquities trade, anti-money laundering and counter threat finance, military and counterterrorism, as well as policy and diplomacy. The conference also encourages the participation of private sector antiquities stakeholders. The goal of the conference is to discuss policy solutions to the trafficking and destruction of cultural heritage at the global level.

In addition to panelists, this conference is open to professional delegates, students, and the public in order to provide for a wide-reaching and educational forum. Those who are interested in attending, but not presenting, should contact the Conference Coordinator to reserve space for the forum.

Panels: The conference will broadly revolve around the following themes:
1. “Antiquities trafficking and destruction in the Middle East”
This panel will examine the long standing tradition of antiquities trafficking throughout the Middle East, as well as the regional and global implications of the Syrian and Iraqi wars.

2. “A Global Survey of Cultural Heritage Under Threat”
This panel will move beyond the Middle East and examine the greater threats posed to the world’s cultural heritage in the 21st century. The focus will not be limited solely to areas experiencing armed conflict, but also regions with significant cultural heritages that are vulnerable to exploitation in the forms of trafficking and destruction.

3. “Conceptualizing New Public-Private Policy Directions”
This panel will address potential policy solutions to the supply and demand sides of the global antiquities trade, as well as new approaches to prevent and mitigate the destruction of irreplaceable cultural heritage. It will also examine the role that private sector antiquities stakeholders play in preventing trafficked items from entering legitimate markets and posing a liability to dealers, museums, and collectors.