Shikha Silwal

Shikha Silwal, Associate Professor of Economics at the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics at Washington and Lee University, specializes in the intersection of economics, cultural heritage, and conflict studies. Her research focuses on the economic motivations behind the looting and destruction of cultural heritage sites during violent conflicts, their broader consequences, and policy frameworks for prevention.

In her 2022 article "The Economics of Looting and Destruction of Cultural Heritage Sites and Objects" (Defence and Peace Economics), she highlights the understudied role of cultural heritage in conflict economics, linking its destruction to financing rebel activities, identity erasure, and intergenerational harm. The study proposes leveraging economic principles (e.g., cost-increasing patrolling, demand reduction for illicit artifacts) and technological tools like remote sensing for heritage protection.

• Research Keywords: Conflict economics, cultural heritage, transitional justice, post-conflict reconciliation, identity economics.
• Email: silwals@wlu.edu