Music’s role in peacebuilding
| Pages | 138-143 |
| Published date | 08 April 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-08-2018-0372 |
| Date | 08 April 2019 |
| Author | Haishang Wu |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace,Sociology,Gender studies,Gender violence,Political sociology, policy & social change,Social conflicts,War/peace |
Music’s role in peacebuilding
Haishang Wu
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to promote communication by using music, and through mutual
understanding and culture exchange to establish world peace.
Design/methodology/approach –The research explains why music promotes world peace and gives
examples through empirical research and statistics.
Findings –Music (those genres with harmonious melodies, with peaceful purposes and without religious,
political objectives) can break down the borders of nation states and bind humanity together. Quoting
J.J. Keki’s words: “Peace will begin with simple people.”“We should use whatever we have to create peace.
If you think you have the body, use the body to bring peace; if you have music, use your music.”Music
contains huge potential of contribution to peacebuilding, such as removal of direct and indirect violence,
igniting hope and will of life and help integrating peacefully among communities.
Originality/value –Peacebuilding should not remain as a theoretical idea, as it is argued that it is useful to
implement within daily life. Music is a language of communication which can remove hostility. While potentially
a good tool for constructing harmony, music can, however, also result in deleterious effects, if it is misused.
Keywords Collaboration, Peace, Conflict, Communication, Human capital, Music
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Before moving to the subject of this paper, the role that music can play in constructing peace, let
us first consider what peace itself is. According to Johan Galtung (1969), there is “negative
peace”which is the absence of direct (personal) violence, and “positive peace”which works to
remove indirect (structural) violence Johan (1969). And then, music –what is it? A first response
might be an emotional one, we might associate music with “amusement.”Unsurprisingly, the
etymology of “music”is the Greek “mousike,”relating to the goddess Muse who is the source of
inspiration in Greek mythology. The effect of music for individuals and for societies was already
recognized in the ancient world, both east and west.
Confucius stated that the quality of a government can be judged from the quality of its music:
“All modulations of the voice spring from the minds of humans. When the feelings are moved
within, they are manifested in the sounds of the voice; and when those sounds are combined so
as to form compositions, we have what are called airs. Hence, the airs of an age of good order
indicate composure and enjoyment. The airs of an age of disorder indicate dissatisfaction and
anger, and its government is perversely bad. The airs of a state going to ruin are expressive of
sorrow and (troubled) thought”(Brindley, 2012; Chinese Text Project, 1885).
Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, also spoke of music: “Music is a moral law. It gives a soul to
the universe, wings to the mind increase of young population”(as quoted in Watson, 1991,
p. 45). In more modern terms, music is a language of communication, not only through lyrics but
through rhythm and melody as well.
When it comes to peacebuilding, most of us can imagine stabilization of societies. The discourse
of the United Nations has sought to implement peacebuilding through a variety of structures and
initiatives with acronyms ranging from peacekeeping operation to disarmament, demobilization,
reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform. Individual scholars have stressed ensuring
individual’s security and entitlement (Amartya Sen), human development, establishment of
Received 25 August 2018
Revised 14 October 2018
Accepted 14 October 2018
Haishang Wu is Researcher at
the Waseda University –
Waseda Campus,
Tokyo, Japan.
PAGE138
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JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICTAND PEACE RESEARCH
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VOL. 11 NO. 2 2019, pp.138-143, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599 DOI 10.1108/JACPR-08-2018-0372
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