Implications of neo-liberalism for built heritage management: Institutional and ownership structures in Ireland and Sweden

This paper explores implications of neo-liberal conventions and practices on institutional and ownership structures for built heritage management. It argues that deliberate adjustments and shifts towards a neo-liberal global economic agenda have raised new issues for decisions relating to ownership and management of the built heritage and consequently concerns for the effects on built environments. This is reflected in the changing role of public institutions and the voluntary sector in built heritage conservation and in processes of privatisation. Based on empirical research which employed a comparative study of urban conservation, the paper draws on the Irish and Swedish experiences with particular reference to the cities of Dublin and Stockholm.