The Role of Music as a Catalyst for Change in Political Struggles
- janine629
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
The Unstoppable Beat: How Music Shapes Our Toughest Times
When politics get messy, conflicts arise, and society feels split, something amazing tends to happen: music steps up. It's not just something playing in the background; it's a strong, sometimes surprising force that both mirrors and influences how we deal with tough times.
From ancient tribal chants to today's digital protest anthems, music has always been there for us during tough political times. It has this incredible power to stir up emotions, create a sense of togetherness, and guide us through tricky political situations.
A Double-Edged Symphony: Resistance and Control
Music’s influence is a real paradox. On one hand, it's a powerful tool for resistance and protest, giving a voice to the marginalized and sparking collective action:
Amplifying Voices: Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" in the 1940s protested racial violence, enduring despite bans. Hip-hop and rap emerged from marginalized communities with raw honesty.
Billie Holiday with her dog, Mister Unifying Movements: During the US Civil Rights Movement, "We Shall Overcome" fostered unity, recognized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 1960s farmworkers'
movement used songs like "Nosotros venceremos" to keep spirits high during strikes.
Historical Impact: From the French Revolution's "Le Marseilles" to the Anti-Apartheid Movement, music has sparked change. In 2022, Shervin Hajipour's "Baraye" highlighted violence against women in Iran, leading to his arrest and widespread protests.
Governments and authoritarian regimes have long used music for state control and propaganda:
Indoctrination: Nazi Germany banned "degenerate music" and promoted composers like Richard Wagner to instill national pride. The "Horst Wessel Lied" became their anthem, and group singing was used in the Hitler Youth to indoctrinate young people.
Nazi drumms at1937 rally, Getty Images. Censorship and Violence: Suppression of dissenting music is a global issue. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, musicians faced torture and execution for cultural "crimes" such as listening to Beethoven. Recently, artists like Rwandan singer Kizito Mihigo died in police custody and Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa was murdered after their politically charged work was banned. Ukrainian conductor Yuri Kerpatenko was executed by Russian troops in 2022 for refusing to perform in support of them.
A Source of Solace and Strength
Beyond politics, music provides solace and resilience during stress and trauma.
Healing the Mind: Music therapy significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and PTSD in conflict zones. For example, anxiety rates dropped from 91.4% to 14.3% after treatment, helping individuals express emotions and manage mental challenges.
Collective Bonding: Group singing and shared musical experiences strengthen social bonds and identity. Music becomes a "living archive" where stories of suffering, resistance, and resilience are preserved, connecting individuals to something greater than themselves and fostering a profound sense of not being alone.
Woman receiving music therapy
Shaping Our Story: Memory and Identity
Music plays a critical role in how societies remember their past and envision their future. It's a key medium in the "politics of memory," where narratives are fiercely contested. While states use music to reinforce a "consistent image of the shared past," oppressed groups use it to safeguard alternative, often suppressed, memories of suffering and cultural identity, as seen with the banned "Ghost Dancing" movement among Native Americans.
Lakota Ghost Dance The Unfinished Song: Challenges and the Digital Age
The struggle between musical expression and governmental repression persists, now complicated by digital platforms. The internet provides broad reach for dissenting voices but also exposes artists to surveillance and reprisal. The "Baraye" case demonstrated that while global visibility can deter some threats, it doesn't ensure immunity.
In essence, music is an indispensable element of human resilience. It shows us that even in the most oppressive circumstances, the human spirit finds expression and connection through sound, ensuring cultural continuity and driving the enduring quest for justice and healing.