Our studies and analysis of international relations has seemed to follow the course of a recitation of theories and concepts created by intellectuals in order to bring about intellectual fame and praise. However, with phrases like soft balancing, constructivist realism, and intractable autocratic regimes, it seems quite possible that one could forget that we are talking about people and, most importantly, relationships between people. Therefore, I'm going to talk plainly about music, I think the lack of jargon has its merits.
In December of 1914, German and Allied forces were pitted against each other on the western front, both sides engaged in trench-based, defensive postures. You probably already know the stylistic details of the fighting, so I'll spare you. What you may not know are the events that transpired on that year's Christmas Eve. While commanders, politicians, and kings looked to their maps and war reports, the average man confronted the night with the hope that some semblance of civilization and humanity could be regained. To celebrate, both the Allies and the Germans sang of their common rejoices and memories. It was not long after that both sides realized a mutual desire to sing and enjoy Christmas rather than fight. Many soldiers described the night as, "the greatest of their lives", although to us, singing several songs might seem insignificant. However, the result was a three-day truce across nearly the entire western front by French, Belgian, British, German, and Colonial soldiers. The fraternization went so far as international soccer games, masses, bartering sessions (for lack of a better word), and even a performance by famous contemporary tenor Walter Kirchhoff (who received a standing ovation from opposing French Brigades).
These events demonstrated several things, 1.) Each soldier realized that his enemy was no more than a common person forced to fight, 2.) The desire of the common man often differed from their leaders, and 3.) That greater progress could be gained through diplomacy far outweighed the option of war.
Upon learning the events of what happened, unit commanders confiscated letters posted for home to stop the leak of information, and then proceeded to "regain" control of their armies by reprimanding soldiers and shifting entire units.
So what does this all mean?
Well, Itzhak Perlman, one of the world's foremost violinists would say that music is the soul of a culture.
That is to say, music provides a conduit for true exchange of ideas among the average and common person and that music makes seems to actually touch people in an almost spiritual way, not the way Cascada is talking about in, "every we time we touch", but in a way that can make millions soldiers disobey orders during one of the bloodiest wars of the century.
And if you believe this story is just about a bunch of Europeans being European and I sound like a crazy, peace-preaching liberal, well then tell me why the folk songs of Korea (and most of East Asia) and Ireland (and most of The West) are based around the same pentatonic scale.
Also, check out this video. It's a violin composition called "Czardas" written by Vittorio Monti, that is, a Romanian gypsy piece written by an Italian. Best of all its played by a Chinese man on the ErHu (a Chinese stringed instrument). Watch it and you might believe in the "soft balancing power" of music.
-That Liberal International Politics and Culture Major
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