Abstract
The article provides a comprehensive study of international models for the protection of historical and cultural heritage and their adaptation in Kazakhstan in the context of modern cultural policy and sustainable development strategies. The aim of the research is to identify institutional mechanisms, legal foundations, and organizational models that ensure effective interaction between the state, society, and international organizations in the field of cultural heritage preservation. The methodological framework combines comparative, institutional, and structural-functional analysis with content analysis of international conventions and legal frameworks. The paper examines key features of the European and Asian systems of heritage protection, analyzing the models of France, Italy, Poland, the United States, Greece, and Japan, where tools of decentralization, public-private partnerships, and civic engagement are successfully implemented. These practices demonstrate the effectiveness of hybrid governance models that integrate legal, economic, and social mechanisms for heritage preservation. For Kazakhstan, the study emphasizes the need to modernize the institutional system and harmonize national legislation with UNESCO and UNIDROIT standards. It proposes a hybrid model combining state regulation, expert participation, philanthropic foundations, and creative industries as sustainable management tools. The results of the research are of practical significance for the development of a state program on cultural heritage preservation, improvement of the legal framework, and strengthening of Kazakhstan’s cultural diplomacy. The findings contribute to shaping a new paradigm of international cooperation and positioning Kazakhstan as an active participant in global initiatives aimed at preserving cultural diversity and the collective memory of humanity.