New7Wonders of the World

New7Wonders of the World
Chichen-Itza-Castillo-Seen-From-East.JPG: Uspn Rio de Janeiro - Cristo Redentor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	New7Wonders of the World
Established	2000
Founder	Bernard Weber
Location	Global
Type	International poll

New7Wonders of the World began as a global public voting campaign initiated at the turn of the 21st century to produce a new list of seven iconic monuments; it was organized by the New7Wonders Foundation led by Swiss-born filmmaker Bernard Weber and conducted amid debates involving institutions such as UNESCO and national heritage agencies. The campaign engaged mass media platforms including BBC, CNN, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and used telecommunications networks operated by companies like Vodafone and Telefónica to solicit votes, producing widespread coverage across countries including Brazil, India, China, Egypt, and Greece.

Overview and Origins

The initiative was announced by the New7Wonders Foundation and publicized through partnerships with broadcasters such as CBC, Al Jazeera, NHK, Arirang Television, and print outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, El País; its stated aim echoed campaigns around commemorations like the Millennium Dome project in London and dialogues that followed the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Supporters cited precedents including lists compiled by Antony de Ávila-style surveys and popular polls in National Geographic and Time (magazine), while critics referenced procedures used by ICOMOS and the advisory bodies to UNESCO for authoritative heritage recognition. The foundation framed the exercise as cultural outreach similar to exhibitions at institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Louvre Museum, and Victoria and Albert Museum.

Selection Process and Criteria

Nominations were opened globally with submissions from national governments, tourism boards like Brazilian Tourism Board, and heritage organizations such as Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Archaeological Survey of India; national lists echoed nomination practices used by ICOMOS and the World Monuments Fund. Voting occurred in multiple phases via the internet, telephone, and SMS systems provided by carriers including Orange S.A., AT&T, and China Mobile, with an initial longlist refined through regional rounds similar in concept to selection processes used by Eurovision Song Contest and international sporting federations like FIFA. Criteria emphasized attributes comparable to those in heritage charters: monumental architectural achievement (as in Petra or Machu Picchu), historical significance (as with Taj Mahal or Great Wall of China), and continued public resonance, although these criteria were not identical to the legal standards codified by UNESCO World Heritage Committee and Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The Seven Winners

The final seven sites announced by the campaign included a mix of ancient and relatively recent monuments, drawing attention to locations long studied by archaeologists from institutions such as University of Oxford, Harvard University, and University of Cambridge and field teams associated with museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museo Nacional de Antropología. Each winner has been the subject of scholarship linking them to broader histories involving empires such as the Mughal Empire, Qin dynasty, Inca Empire, and polities documented in epigraphy housed at institutions like the British Museum and Museo del Oro. Scholars publishing in journals like Antiquity, Journal of Archaeological Science, and World Archaeology have analyzed construction techniques, preservation challenges, and cultural meanings, while conservation efforts have involved organizations including the World Monuments Fund, Getty Conservation Institute, and national ministries such as the Ministry of Culture (Peru) and Ministry of Culture and Sports (Greece).

Controversies and Criticisms

Criticism of the campaign engaged voices from UNESCO, heritage professionals from ICOMOS, academics at University of Chicago and Sorbonne University, and journalists at outlets like The Washington Post and Der Spiegel, who questioned methodological transparency and the prominence of marketing over scholarly vetting. Debates referenced campaigns by nations seen in other international competitions such as bids for Olympic Games or World Expo that mobilize diaspora voting and corporate sponsorship from conglomerates like Siemens and Samsung. Allegations of vote manipulation invoked telecommunications regulators such as Federal Communications Commission and national election commissions, and legal challenges or parliamentary inquiries were discussed in legislatures including the Brazilian National Congress and the Parliament of Portugal.

Cultural and Economic Impact

Winners experienced heightened tourism, prompting engagement from national tourism agencies like Tourism Authority of Thailand, Peru's PromPerú, and Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and private-sector stakeholders such as airlines Emirates, Qatar Airways, and LATAM Airlines. Increased visitation raised conservation concerns handled by teams linked to UNESCO World Heritage Centre, IUCN, and NGOs such as Conservation International and BirdLife International, while local economies saw investment by hotel groups including Marriott International, Accor, and Hilton Worldwide. Cultural diplomacy initiatives followed patterns seen in bilateral programs between countries like India and France and multilateral dialogues at forums such as the UN General Assembly and the World Tourism Organization.

Legacy and Successor Initiatives

The campaign stimulated subsequent projects by the New7Wonders Foundation and inspired alternative lists produced by media organizations like National Geographic, BBC programming, and scholarly compendia published by presses such as Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press. It contributed to ongoing conversations involving advisory bodies such as ICOMOS and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee about public engagement in heritage designation, and influenced regional promotions by entities like the European Commission and ASEAN. Debates continue in academic departments across universities including Stanford University, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley about the intersection of popular culture, heritage management, and international policy.

Category:Cultural heritage lists