<p>How does the theory of self-management translate into mechanisms for heritage protection? How can heritage become a social resource safeguarded not only by professionals and legislation, but also through collective care? This study traces the Yugoslav journey of conceptualising heritage protection within the broader context of self-managed socialism. It outlines key milestones in the institutionalisation of heritage protection and highlights processes unfolding after 1974, when the adoption of the final constitution of SFR Yugoslavia reinforced decentralisation, resulting in the development of distinct legal and institutional frameworks across the republics and autonomous provinces. That same year, Yugoslavia’s ratification of the UNESCO <i>Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage</i> (1972) signalled its growing engagement with international heritage norms. Focussing on legal and institutional mechanisms of heritage protection as well as their scholarly and practical dimensions, this study shows how the internal restructuring of the heritage protection system unfolded alongside an increasingly pronounced cultural internationalism, expanding heritage protection beyond individual monuments and moving toward a holistic view of the environment that included both natural and human-made values. Central to this analysis is the concept of socialisation of heritage protection (<i>podruštvljavanje zaštite</i>), which redefined protection as a shared societal responsibility. This idea culminated in the notion of active protection (<i>aktivna zaštita</i>), which promoted revitalisation, social participation, and the integration of heritage into everyday life. While the implementation of these ideas faced challenges, the Yugoslav model nonetheless offers valuable lessons for rethinking heritage values across political systems.</p>