User:Darkerinmyeyes/Music and Political Warfare

Music and Political Warfare have been used together in many different political contexts and cultures as a way to reach a targeted audience in order to deliver a specific political message. Political warfare as defined by Paul A. Smith is the "use of political means to compel an opponent to do one's will...commonly through the use of words, images and ideas.". Music is useful because it creates an easily recognizable and memorable method of delivery for the desired message. Music is particularly useful medium for the delivery of propaganda. Jacques Ellul stated that for propaganda to be effective it must "fill the citizen's whole day and every day"

The banning of music itself can also be a method of political warfare. This was the case in Afghanistan while the Taliban held power. Music was also banned on the government controlled radio stations by Somalian rebel group al-Shabab. Rebel groups are seeking to establish Sharia law within the country and eliminating music is seen as a way to purge society of what they view as "social vices"

Music and Political Warfare in Nazi Germany

One group who understood the role that music played in spreading their political message was the Nazis in Hitler's Germany.

Clearly understanding the link between music and political warfare, propaganda minister Josef Goebbels once stated: "Music affects the heart and emotions more than the intellect. Where then could the heart of a nation beat stronger than in the huge masses, in which the heart of a nation has found its true home?" . Music was used within the Hitler Youth organization as a way to indoctrinate the youth of Germany into the Nazi's ideology. As part of their activities, group singing was a way to educate the young members of the group. According to an internal memo, songs were seen as "posses[ing] the strongest community building power".

Music and Political Warfare in Modern Times

In Uzbekistan there has been an increase in television programming programming that seeks to convey the regime's political and ideological messages. As a way to counter growing Islamic fundamentalism, Uzbek television programming has vilified Islamists through the use of pop videos by a group called Setora, a trio dubbed the "Tashkent Spice Girls". Setora's music video tells the story of a young soldier, the boyfriend of one of three girls, who is sent away on a military assignment away from his loved one. Intertwined with this story are scenes of a mother and her children being taken captive by a highly caricatured Islamic extremist. As the video continues the soldier sweeps in to the rescue of the family, dying a hero in the process. The imagery of a mother is often used as a symbol for the state and in this case the state must be protected and preserved from the threat of Islamic extremism.