Abstract
In this article we will study the work being done by the international agency MERCOSUR in the field of cultural heritage of the associated states. This thematic agenda is organized by MERCOSUR Cultural and its Cultural Heritage Commission. Being one of the main achievements of this agenda the creation of a list that recognizes from a regional approach the “tangible and intangible goods as heritage”, this geographical characteristic that transcends the national borders imposed because of the colonialist distribution is the starting point for a decolonial analysis of the existing patrimonies and their potential candidacies. Thus, it seeks to recognize the benefits and conflicts inherent in the transversal inclusion of the places and states where this particular type of regional cultural heritage is developed. The ability to influence development in a complex way, understood as the improvement of the living conditions of singular social groups and not as mere economic growth from an ultra-past Western vision, although still valid, invites us to think of regional cultural heritages in Latin America as soft power. This concept indicates that a political agent can make use of culture as a tool to influence another or other political agents, consequently we find in this list of cultural heritages, little known if we compare it with that of the UNESCO, a viable tool of soft power regional and at the same time a matter of analysis for decolonial studies starting from the transversal element of its composition.
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Notes
- 1.
For more information see: “Ensaios About A Urbanização Latin American”.
- 2.
Approving to this end the Regulation for the Recognition of Cultural Heritage of MERCOSUR” and attributing its application to the Commission on Cultural Heritage (CPC).
- 3.
Although, the oldest recognition as a National Monument (Decree-Law number 25/1937), took place in Brazil, seven years after the completion of the work, in 1937; for its part, in Uruguay this recognition was given several decades later in 1971 (National Historic Monument/MHN, Law Number 14.040/1971). Also, in 2012, the Brazilian government registered it in the “livro do Cop Historic”, “Livro do Cop Ethnographic Archaeological and Landscape” and “livro do Cop das Artes Aplicadas”.
- 4.
La Payada has several recognitions both in Argentina and Uruguay. In that sense, in 2010 Uruguay recognized “The Art of the Payador” as intangible cultural heritage. Argentina for its declaration on different occasions “The Day of the Payador” and in 2012 Deliberative, declares the Payada as intangible cultural heritage of the party of San Vicente (Resolution No. 576 of the Honorable Deliberative Council).
- 5.
The Yerba Mate has several recognitions, among this, in Paraguay it was declared cultural heritage and national drink (Law 4261/2011), the Pohaña (medicinal type of Yerba Mate) was recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage to the Culture of Pohaña of Paraguay (SNC Resolution Nª 994/2014).
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Maurtua, K.E. (2023). Cultural Mercosur: A Regional Vision of Cultural Heritage as Soft Power. In: Christofoletti, R. (eds) Soft Power and Heritage. The Latin American Studies Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41207-3_6
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