Developments in Approaches to Heritage in Estonia: Monuments, Values, and People

The purpose of this article is to look at the ways in which heritage is approached, based on the conceptual framework of critical inheritance research. In case of approaches to inheritance, I distinguish between object-based, value-based, and people-centered approaches - depending on which aspects of the heritage are at the heart of the inheritance management process. I use different case studies from the Estonian context as examples. I am particularly interested in the changes in heritage management in the time frame of the 1970s and 1980s to the present day. In order to describe object-based heritage management, I will use Kalvi Aluve s book "The story about architectural monuments" (1983). It is a popular work targeted for the general public, which is why many of the views and concepts that are obviously used on a daily basis by those involved in the matter and have often become an invisible part of the work culture, are explained in detail and defined. Value-based inheritance management sets at the heart of heritage the values attributed to heritage by the various stakeholders in society. While in object-based heritage management people act as groups against the backdrop of monuments, this approach shifts the values that people attach to heritage objects and heritage phenomena to the forefront. A value-based approach to heritage was introduced quite unexpectedly in Estonia in the late 1980s, in connection with the independence movement. Characteristically to value-based heritage management, the values related to independence and sovereignty attributed to objects became more important to people than the concrete objects themselves. As political forces and political struggles developed, purely political movements and associations became important. The paradigm of value-based heritage management then shifted to the area of natural sacred places. The value-based approach to heritage management puts communities and the values attributed by them to the heritage at the forefront, be they freedom and independence of the Estonian people, as we saw in the analysis of the heritage movement in the 1980s and 1990s, or the holiness that the Earth faith believers attribute to natural sacred places. The valuebased approach, however, greatly expands the concept of heritage, including spiritual aspects of the intangible heritage and material objects and the environment. The decision to preserve something for future generations is, above all, a philosophical and ethical issue. People-centered inheritance management starts with addressing these issues. Estonian art historian and heritage protection philosopher Juhan Maiste is the only one who has dealt with these problems in connection with the Estonian heritage conservation in several articles and books. Below I will analyze his approach and try to highlight the connections with people-centered heritage management. Heritage management cannot be an activity separate from society. It is inevitably linked to all cultural, economic, and political processes taking place in society. However, the practical management of cultural heritage is influenced by different interpretations of and approaches to value. The analysis carried out clearly show that for object-based heritage management, there is a clear theoretical basis as well as institutions implementing the practice. Value-based heritage management is based on existing theory, but its practical application is still in its infancy. Theoretical basis and practices for peoplecentered heritage management still need to be established. Creation of heritage at municipal and state level has for a long time been objectbased, whereas elsewhere in the world, a shift towards value-based heritage creation began since the 1980s, and in Estonia, this process is underway. However, the transition to people-centered heritage management requires a significant revolution in the entire heritage landscape. The natural sacred places that bind the intangible and material heritage and the natural environment and their management processes obviously pave the way for more people-centered heritage management. The decisive issue for heritage management is the introduction of sustainable and more inclusive management methods. People need to be involved in heritage management on all its stages, starting from the definition of heritage and ending with its interpretation.