Date
12-4-2025
Department
School of Music
Degree
Doctor of Music Education (DME)
Chair
Cassandra Hibbard
Keywords
Protest, music, cultural boundaries, cultural diffusion, social movements, political movements, global collective identity, solidarity, transcending boundaries, social change, civil rights movement, mobilize, anti-apartheid, black lives matter, anti-Vietnam War, climate activism, social and political movements, cultural diffusion theory, social identity theory, framing theory, digital platforms, momentum, sustainability
Disciplines
Music
Recommended Citation
Missick, Valerie Brooke, "From Protest to Harmony: The Global Language of Change" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7721.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7721
Abstract
This qualitative historical study investigates how music functions as a unifying force within global social and political movements, transcending cultural, linguistic, and national boundaries to foster collective identity and sustain long-term activism. Drawing on Social Identity Theory, Cultural Diffusion Theory, and Framing Theory, the research analyzes archival documents, historical records, media sources, and case studies from movements such as the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, anti-apartheid struggles, Black Lives Matter, the Arab Spring, and contemporary climate justice activism. Findings reveal that music operates as both an emotional catalyst and a strategic communication tool, shaping narratives, strengthening solidarity, and providing participants with resilience in the face of adversity. Through shared songs, chants, and digitally circulated protest anthems, music bridges divides, mobilizes communities, and reinforces a global collective consciousness. The rise of digital media further amplifies this reach, enabling protest music to circulate rapidly across borders and inspire transnational networks of support. The study highlights music’s enduring power not only to reflect the values of a movement but also to propel meaningful social change, offering important implications for activists, educators, and scholars seeking to harness music as a transformative instrument of justice and unity.
