Music in peacebuilding: a critical literature review

Abstract

The critical literature review summarizes and appraises studies that have been pursued by music scholars examining the contributions of music to peacebuilding as well as the role of music in violence. These two bodies of literature are rarely brought into dialogue, but I juxtapose them in order to confront the idea of music’s exceptionalism as inherently good or neutral. I further highlight the specific issues and questions that arise from considering the findings on music’s role in peace and violence together. The goal of this piece is to help situate the other JPE special issue articles within the existing efforts in music and peacebuilding, to indicate fruitful areas for future research, and to raise ideas and concerns for praxial interventions that might be developed to use music in peacebuilding.