Conclusion

Although current reports suggest that the battle over Aleppo is now one between the rebels and the government forces, with the Russian air strikes driving off the Islamic state6 , the outcome of the conflict is still unclear, thus leaving the fate of Aleppo in a somewhat indeterminable state. Nevertheless the cases above have shown the importance of forward planning is vital. And the key is knowing which questions to ask, and what information can feasibly be obtained at that point in time. The ability to use the available human resources, as the various surveys have done, allows any organisations involved to focus their efforts on solving the priorities of the people, for as these studies demonstrate there is an undeniable need for community involvement at all stages. Such work comes with a caveat though, that the process will need repeating on the ground in Aleppo where results are likely to differ and change as the conflict continues. Tracking these shifts could be vital to marking changing opinions and political support for each party.

Furthermore, considering the conclusion obtained by the report on the politicisation of UNESCO, that there are ‘close political and economic relationships between countries [and] committee members’ behaviour,’ regarding the inscribing of sites on to the World Heritage List, and having already discussed the side-stepping of politicians in the reconstruction of Mostar, it would be pertinent to assume that the current heritage process, at least in the studies shown, has a strong top-down approach. Although difficult to change, this must be assessed and exposed to questioning with hope of development.

However, most importantly, whilst this dissertation first set out to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of varying heritage practices and the effects they have on their corresponding cities, it has hopefully demonstrated both the complicated nature of our relationship with the built environment and the utter importance that a viable and, even, healthy city resurfaces from this conflict. This needs to be noted, especially in Aleppo, where with an estimated rebuild cost stretching into the hundreds of billions, and no end in sight as yet for the conflict, it could take several decades to get the city back on its feet. But we hope that the time can be used wisely, in exploring all of the key issues well in advance to develop an extensive plan of a city rebuilt for its people, by its people, and in allowing its residents to understand that the Aleppo of the future can never be the Aleppo of the past, and that it should not try to be.