Exploring potential musical mechanisms for conflict transformation between First Nations and settler peoples in Australia

Bibliographic Data

ID7156226
AuthorsRyan Martins (0000-0003-0510-6659, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume18
Issue2
Pages211-232
Publication date2025-06-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Community Music (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1752-6302 • E-ISSN: 1752-6299
PublisherIntellect (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1386/ijcm_00125_1
OpenAlexW4416425554
LanguageEN
References cited18

Conflict and methods for dealing with it are an inherent part of social life. There are many tools for managing conflict, and there has been increasing scholarly attention recently on the potential of music in this area. However, further research is required to fully understand the mechanisms involved. This article examines possible musical mechanisms for peacebuilding and conflict transformation between First Nations and settler peoples in Australia. It does this by evaluating a musical workshop titled ‘Togetherness through music: Uniting Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australia’. Data were collected through a design journal, participant observation and interviews. Thematic and musical analysis revealed three potential processes for supporting conflict transformation and two that might hinder it. The three supportive mechanisms are normalizing First Nations peoples , a need for future action and new perspectives in other life moments . The two detractive processes are an increased fear of saying the wrong thing and failure to afford intercultural learning . This article also offers several suggestions for future peacebuilding practice based on these findings

Conflict resolution · Conflict transformation · Ethnomusicology · Indigenous · Musical · Peacebuilding · Thematic analysis · Artistic and Creative Research · Diverse Musicological Studies · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights

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