Uses of Hagia Sophia: Politics, Heritage and the Imperative for Inclusive Management

Abstract

The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 created international controversy, and the Erdog˘an administration has been criticized for using it as a political vehicle, abandoning the state’s duties for safeguarding the World Heritage Site. This research will investigate the use of Hagia Sophia by the Republic of Turkey in their national and international politics, and it will demonstrate how both the museum and the mosque settings were oriented by the political needs of the time and affected heritage management: conservation, interpretation and visitor’s accessibility. The purpose of this study is to illustrate that the institutional uses of Hagia Sophia have always been political and to highlight the potential benefit and the continuing social, cultural and educational responsibilities as a living religious heritage site through multigovernmental and international collaboration. Recognizing the limitations of each institutional setting demands an inclusive and strategic management of Hagia Sophia that respects its complex history and diverse values to serve both local and global communities.