Restitution in practice: a comparative critique of Jos van Beurden’s The Empty Showcase Syndrome through the lens of Guinea-Bissau

Jos van Beurden’s The Empty Showcase Syndrome (2024) presents a detailed and timely exploration of the politics and practice of restitution of cultural heritage. His work maps the uneven efforts across European countries and highlights the ambivalences and structural challenges inherent in the process of repatriating cultural artifacts to their countries of origin. While the study offers a broad and nuanced overview of the European landscape, this analysis aims to compare the author’s conclusions with the findings of my research on the cultural heritage of Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony. Such a comparative perspective enables a critical reflection on the limitations and possibilities of current restitution frameworks, underscoring the need for a more profound epistemological and infrastructural shift that addresses both the symbolic and material dimensions of restitution.