Art, Music, and Literature as Tools for Peace

Fiazur Rehman- Researcher

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Introduction

In a world marked by conflict, polarization, and mistrust, hard power alone has repeatedly failed to deliver sustainable peace.

History and contemporary global experience show that soft power tools like art, music, and literature, play a critical but often underestimated role in peacebuilding.

These cultural expressions shape perceptions, humanize “the other,” and create shared spaces for dialogue where politics and diplomacy often reach dead ends.

International organizations such as UNESCO, peace theorists like Johan Galtung, and numerous post-conflict societies recognize culture as a pillar of positive peace, not merely an accessory to it.

Why Culture Matters in Peacebuilding

Peace is not only the absence of war but the presence of:

• Mutual understanding;
• Social justice;
• Respect for diversity;
• Shared human values.

Art, music, and literature contribute to peace by:

• Addressing psychological and emotional dimensions of conflict;
• Challenging enemy…