Abstract:
This thesis explores the phenomenon of music and conflict, both as generator and
resolver. The study examines forty-seven observations of where music has
occurred as a significant cultural marker to conflict. The observations occurred
across the globe and throughout history and ranged from violent conflicts such as
the French Revolution to non-violent conflicts like the Velvet Revolution. The
data was collected, coded and analyzed statistically to determine what variables
might be important in understanding this social phenomenon. This thesis is
designed to be a reference, resource and starting point for people interested in
understanding the factors that may contribute to successful and musically artistic resolutions to conflict.
