Debates about the restitution of cultural objects have been ongoing for
many decades, but have acquired a new urgency recently with the
intensification of scrutiny of European museum collections acquired in
the colonial period. Alexander Herman's fascinating and accessible book
provides an up-to-date overview of the restitution debate with reference
to a wide range of current controversies. This is a book about the
return of cultural treasures: why it is demanded, how it is negotiated,
and where it might lead. This debate forces us to confront an often dark
history, and the difficult application of our contemporary conceptions
of justice to instances from the past. Should we allow plundered
artefacts to rest where they lie--often residing there by the imbalances
of history? This book asks whether we are entering a new 'restitution
paradigm, ' one that could have an indelible impact on the cultural
sector--and the rest of the world--for many years to come. It provides
essential reading for all those working in the art and museum worlds and
beyond.