Introduction

Abstract

This opening chapter illustrates both what is meant by “going beyond” and why “going beyond” is necessary. The chapter opens with a retrospective look at the evolution of the concepts of sustainable development and sustainability. It then places it in its contemporary context, a potential solution for the challenges posed by modernisation. However, in a world increasingly driven by economic motives, sustainability becomes more difficult to achieve. This chapter and the publication propose that for sustainable development to be realized, in the face of the demands of modernity, we must go “beyond” the current discourse. In this context, going beyond entails engaging a broader spectrum of expertise and voices, outside of the established channels and norms. The necessity for going beyond is contextualized through a reflection upon the current state of, and challenges facing, the discourse surrounding sustainability, sustainable development and heritage. Further, the chapter highlights which of these challenges are pertinent for UNESCO’s conventions and programmes, such as the World Heritage Convention and the Memory of the World Programme. After having established the key challenges facing the field of heritage studies, the chapter reflects upon each individual contribution to Going Beyond: Perceptions of Sustainability in Heritage Studies Vol 2, emphasizing how each paper goes beyond the current discourse.