Andris Kairišs

This article argues that community resilience is deeply embedded in living and material cultural heritage, customary governance, and local social practices, rather than generated solely through formal external interventions. In response to natural, social, or economic disruptions, communities mobilize heritage-based livelihoods, reciprocal exchanges, and custodianship to meet immediate needs and organize recovery. Drawing on a qualitative comparative analysis of global case studies and institutional analogues, the article advances four linked claims: (1) heritage practices constitute embedded resilience by safeguarding memory and social cohesion; (2) heritage-based livelihoods and plural economies support survival through identity, trust, and reciprocity; (3) recovery yields durable social outcomes when heritage is treated as social infrastructure rather than merely a physical asset requiring technical conservation; and (4) these practices operate in legally plural settings where formal recovery policy often overlooks customary authority and living traditions. The article concludes that cultural heritage must be reframed as community-driven social infrastructure for resilience, requiring crisis-recovery governance to recognize community participation, living heritage, and legal pluralism.

Promocijas darbs ir tematiski vienotu zinātnisko rakstu kopa, kas ietver autora izstrādātos pētījumus. Pētījumu gaitā veikta Latvijas nekustamā kultūras mantojuma sociāli ekonomiskā potenciāla attīstības šķēršļu izpēte un piedāvāti risinājumi šo šķēršļu pārvarēšanai, t. sk. identificēti un novērtēti faktori, kas ietekmē nekustamā kultūras mantojuma sociāli ekonomiskā potenciāla attīstību, noteikti galvenie sociāli ekonomiskie indikatori ilgtspējīgiem attīstības projektiem šajā jomā un izstrādāts nekustamā kultūras mantojuma pārvaldības un sociāli ekonomiskās attīstības metodoloģiskais ietvars.

The author's research on the problems and solutions for the development of the socio-economic potential of Latvia's immovable cultural heritage.

Archaeological sites as part of cultural heritage satisfy a broad range of interests of different stakeholders. Along with satisfying cultural, social, scientific, etc., interests, their role is no less important in strategic socio-economic development.Unlocking asocio-economic potential of archaeological sites requires clear vision of how to conserve and protect each particular site, how and by what means to maintain and manage the object as well as what to do with it next. It is widely acknowledged that archaeological sites, in particular those having the status of archaeological monuments, play a socially important role, but their maintenance and development often require significant investment. While the laws make owners of archaeological sites, both private and public, solely responsible for conservation, restoration and maintenance of cultural monuments in their property, there should be appropriate mechanisms that mitigate the financial and legal burden and support owners along the way.Based on the review of legal regulation, scientific literature, information of the authorities and mass media, multiple expert interviews, consultations with professional archaeologists, and using an integrated socio-economic and legal approach to the researched issue, the article provides theoretical and practical insight into the actualities of archaeological heritage development potential in Latvia (making international comparisons) and possible solutions thereto.

The aim of the article is to reflect the currently existing regulatory environment for damages caused to archaeological sites by illegal human intervention and its implementation by law enforcement sector and the courts in Latvia. The article is mostly focused on legal and socio-economic consequences of endangerment of archaeological sites. It analyses liability aspects, examines case law, determines the existing challenges and proposes basis for improvement in administrative and legal procedures. Methods applied in the research are literature review, legal framework and documentary analysis, statistical and case law analysis. The results of the research could be used inter alia for the purposes of criminal, civil and administrative proceedings, amending legal regulation and damage assessment mechanisms.

The aim of the article is to reflect the necessity of introducing objective criteria in articulating monetary value of the damage caused to archaeological sites (immovable cultural monuments) as a result of illegal activities. The research focuses on the damage assessment criteria and resulting diminishment of economic value that are used in several countries, as well as examines the key interests and stakeholders in damage assessment process and outcome. It further describes the corresponding situation in Latvia, determines the existing challenges and proposes the basis for improvement in administrative and legal procedures. Methods applied in the research are literature review, legal framework and documentary analysis, statistical analysis and elements of qualitative content analysis. International intercomparisons have been made consulting with foreign experts. The assay is mostly done from legal and socioeconomic point of view. The results of the research could be used for the purposes of amending legal regulation and damage assessment mechanisms.