Chimes of freedom : the power of music for the promotion of human rights and democracy as inspired by the social movements of the 1960s in the USA

Abstract

With the aim of exploring the way in which music can contribute to the promotion of human rights and democratic values globally, this thesis offers an in-depth study of the social movements of the 1960s in the USA. This time period has been a model for the generations to come after it, of what can be achieved through music in terms of awareness-raising of human rights, empowerment of the oppressed, and mobilization for social movement. This thesis explores the emotional value of music both on an individual and a collective level, and the crucial role music can play in movements leading to social change. By taking a close look at the fundamentals of human rights education, this thesis offers substantial evidence for the effectiveness of using music as a tool of awareness-raising. The link between music and human rights education is made visible by illustrating the human rights content in the lyrics of a sample of songs from the 60s. Finally, recommendations are made for how to use the information gathered in this thesis as an inspiration to incorporate music into human rights activism today.