It is often argued that the artifacts currently housed in institutions across the globe should be repatriated to the nations from which they originated. While I agree that objects taken due to the colonial exploitation should be returned, I believe a blanket policy of restitution is neither realistic nor always advantageous, particularly when preservation and global accessibility are considered.
First of all, returning historical objects would provide restorative justice in colonial context. Many objects were acquired through conquest, looting or coercive treaties during colonial rule, from indigenous cultures were unfairly disposed with them. Because objects often carry religious, spiritual and cultural significance, when such objects are returned to their homeland, their meaning will be understood in their original context. A sacred artifact displayed as a curiosity in a foreign museum loses meaning for the community it belongs to.
However, major museums such as the British Museum and the Louvre, allow millions of people who will never visit the country of origin, to learn about these civilizations and raise public awareness of them. This fosters cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. For example, the British Museum receives over six million visitors annually, many of whom would never have the opportunity to travel to Greece, Egypt or Nigeria to see these civilizations’ artifacts firsthand. Viewing remarkable artifacts from their golden age, will give access for people to see and understand the cultural background and engage in human history.
Some countries have experienced war, looting or lack of resources for conservation, meaning that objects might be safer or better preserved abroad. For instance, following the outbreak of civil war in Syria, numerous ancient artifacts in local museums were looted or destroyed by militant groups, whereas comparable items held in European institutions remained safe and intact. Similarly, the destruction of ancient sites in Iraq during periods of conflict has led some historians to argue that dispersing cultural treasures across multiple locations acts as a safeguard against total loss.
In conclusion, restituted cultural treasures are crucial in order to redress the injustices suffered by indigenous cultures, which suffered from imperialistic rules. Even so, restitution is not always feasible due to political instability in certain countries, and global museums become them.