I take it that Jon Turney is being deliberately disingenuous in expressing puzzlement with the politics of UNESCO and Down House.
Given how UNESCO has seen fit to add minor industrial landmarks to its world heritage list, the exclusion of Down House is almost certainly the result of opposition to evolution on the part of many of those who hold positions of political and cultural influence within UN member states that have Muslim majority populations. There is no shortage of people within such countries who are grounded in reality, but their voices are largely excluded from public discourse, and therefore carry little weight.
It is a problem even in Turkey, which has long been regarded as a mostly Muslim country with a progressive, modernist outlook. TÜBİTAK, the Turkish research council, is somewhat ambivalent on the issue, and the leading cultural commentator is the deep-pocketed creationist and notorious antisemite Adnan Oktar. Turkey's voice carries considerable weight within UNESCO.
In relative terms, 21 Albemarle Street stands a much better chance of being granted the status of World Heritage Site than does Down House. But it's still close to zero. Regency splendour and the Ri's unique lecture theatre aside, that which 21 Albemarle Street represents is not dependent on the central London building. This is in contrast to Down House and environs, from which Darwin drew much of his scientific inspiration.
Francis
I'm keeping out of the RI discussion, but it may be worth noting that UNESCO has not exactly jumped at the chance to recognise Down House which (to my mind) had a strong claim. It is remarkable that you can still walk the downs where Darwin contemplated wild orchids and spot most of the same species...
I also know that a vast amount of work went into the bid, and remain puzzled by the politics of "needs further study and analysis", but others who have kept in closer touch may know more about that?
Jon Turney
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Dr Francis Sedgemore
journalist, writer and physicist
telephone: +44 7840 191336
twitter: @hesgen