Mechanisms of Cultural Heritage Instrumentalization in the Context of Ethnopolitical Transformations: Typology of Models and Factor Analysis

The article examines the complex mechanisms of cultural heritage instrumentalization within the context of ethno-political transformations. The study analyzes how cultural heritage moves beyond preservation objectives to become an active tool in socio-political processes, particularly in identity construction and territorial marking. Through comparative, institutional, and factor analysis of three representative cases – Itchan-Kala (Uzbekistan), Toledo (Spain), and Angkor Wat (Cambodia) – the research identifies and systematizes three distinct models of heritage instrumentalization: ethnocentric, multicultural, and transnational ones. Each model corresponds to specific socio-political conditions and developmental stages. The ethnocentric model, prevalent in emerging nation-states, employs selective memorialization to legitimize national identities. The multicultural model, characteristic of consolidated democracies, commodifies cultural diversity for economic advantage. The transnational model, found in post-conflict societies, features professional management under significant international influence. The study reveals the paradoxical nature of international heritage management regimes, which simultaneously depoliticize heritage at the local level through professionalization while creating new arenas for symbolic competition in the global dimension.