UNESCO intangible heritage: protection or cultural populism?

Antonio Gurrado, writing for Il Foglio, criticizes UNESCO's imminent addition of the Sbürlar la rôda practice from Cremona province to its intangible heritage list, calling the organization a 'burletta' (farce). The article argues that UNESCO's expansion into intangible heritage is driven by a need to grow its network and secure funding, rather than genuine cultural preservation. It questions the value of creating an international ranking of living traditions, warning that external recognition can introduce bureaucracy and external funding needs that may weaken the authentic, identity-based relationship between communities and their practices. The piece distinguishes between spontaneous, community-driven tourism and the potential denaturing effect of UNESCO listing. While acknowledging the importance of intangible cultural expressions, it contends that listing them in an ever-growing international inventory may not be the best way to empower them, and risks turning them into commodities. The author previously expressed similar concerns five years ago in the same publication.