Private International Law, Art And Cultural Heritage

In this timely book Christa Roodt demonstrates how the structure and method of private international law can be applied in its expanding relationship with cultural heritage law. In particular, she explores the use of private international law in the context of ownership claims and the illicit trafficking of cultural objects. She shows how, in decisions about classification and the public policy exception, and in the application and treatment of foreign public law, value-rationality and mutuality can defeat the dogmatic underpinnings of conflicts and jurisdiction rules that frustrate the achievement of global solidarity.

This timely book demonstrates how full account can be taken of the structure and method of private international law in its expanding relationship with cultural heritage law, identifying opportunities for keeping pace with the underpinning value judgments. Through a global lens, Roodt explores how value-rationality and mutuality can defeat the dogmatic underpinnings of conflicts and jurisdiction rules that frustrate the achievement of global solidarity in public policy decisions and the treatment of foreign public law. 

The satisfactory settlement of claims based on ownership and the restitution of art and cultural objects requires improvements in the approaches and methods of dispute resolution that prevail today. The author reveals hidden dimensions of private international law, which can help re-script these approaches and methods to better tailor them to the illicit trade in cultural objects, title laundering, the suppression of policy considerations and ethical concerns that support the restitution of Nazi spoliated art.

International officials and policymakers will find this a unique and ethically comprehensive resource, addressing matters that impact the artistic, cultural and historical record and the safeguarding of cultural and heritage objects within the contemporary art market. Adjudicators, law enforcement officials and legal scholars will appreciate its fresh and inclusive treatment of issues including restitution, material heritage and provenance.