What kinds of museums for what kinds of societies?

Abstract

The article reflects the broader political contexts of the current debate about ICOM’s museum definition. It focuses on the aim to commit museums to specific values that define their place within their respective societies. What kind of values are addressed? What is specific about them? And why did they trigger such a lively debate? To my mind the decisive question at the heart of the controversy is: Is the new text about an ambitious museum vision for the future? Or should ICOM rather pursue the cultural policy matters of formulating (minimum) standards with its definition which (should) already apply to all museums today and which policy respects?