Framing Musicians Without Border's Peacebuilding Agenda
Author(s):
Katie Bruce
Angela Impey
Publication Year:
2019
Type:
report
Journal/Book Title
Publisher
Editor(s):
Pages:
68
Volume:
Issue:
Abstract:
This report was commissioned by Musicians Without Borders (MWB) in 2019 This report considers MWB’s peacebuilding agenda and examines how, and in what ways, it accords with the perceptions, needs and expectations of beneficiaries in two project localities, namely, Soy Música in El Salvador and Palestine Community Music in the West Bank. The report responds to a call by peacebuilding researchers and practitioners for more in-depth ethnographic research to better understand the psychosocial and political complexities that characterise conflict and post-conflict environments. It draws on interviews and focus group discussions held with a range of stakeholders in both project areas to build evidence of their respective needs and perspectives, and considers this data against MWB’s Theory of Change (TOC). Results from the study indicate that MWB projects are highly attuned to local social, cultural and political conditions and experiences, as well as responsive to shifting political parameters. Projects work with an adaptive definition of ‘peace’, as situations demand, and seek to build a range of local capacities to ensure cultural sensitivity, agency and local ownership. Some structural adjustments are advised to ensure trainee support in El Salvador and to strengthen training capacity and trainee networking in the West Bank. More broadly, the report aims to contribute insight to the recurrent conceptual and methodological problems that arise in many arts-based interventions from a one-dimensional understanding of conflict dynamics, and to demonstrate how cultural programmes such as those implemented by MWB may strengthen the place of culture in low intensity conflict and post-conflict peacebuilding agendas.
Citation (Chicago Author-Date):
Bruce, Katie, and Angela Impey. 2019. “Framing Musicians Without Border’s Peacebuilding Agenda.” https://musicianswithoutborders.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Framing-MWBs-Peacebuilding-Agenda-A-Case-Study-analysis-of-Soy-Musica-and-Palestine-Community-Music-2019-Katie-Bruce-and-Angela-Impey.pdf.