Looking for the future in the rubble of Palmyra: Destruction,reconstruction and identity

The destruction of the ancient ruins of Palmyra by the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) in September 2015 shocked the world, with some going so far as to decry it as a war crime. This paper explores why the razing of Palmyra resonated so strongly with the international community, demonstrating how the relationship between urban space and collective memory made this event so powerful. Looking to the future, it suggests that the toughest test for Palmyra is yet to come. The challenge of post-conflict reconstruction in sites such as this is inextricably bound up with questions of identity, memory and power, all of which will need to be worked out when the war in Syria eventually comes to an end.