Radicalism and Music: An Introduction to the Music Cultures of al-Qa’ida, Racist Skinheads, Christian-Affiliated Radicals, and Eco-Animal Rights Militants

by Jonathan Pieslak

Radicalism and Music offers a convincing argument for music’s transformational impact on the radicalization, reinforcement, and motivational techniques of violent political activists. It makes a case for the careful examination of music’s roles in radical cultures, roles that have serious impacts, as evidenced by the actions of the Frankfurt Airport shooter Arid Uka, Sikh Temple murderer Wade Page, white supremacist Matthew Hale, and animal-rights activist Walter Bond, among others. Such cases bring up difficult questions about how those involved in radical groups can be stirred to feel or act under the influence of music.

Radicalism and Music is based on interviews, email correspondence, concerts, and videos. As a “sound strategy,” music is exploited to its fullest potential as a tool for recruiting and retaining members by members of al-Qa’ida, the Hammerskin Nation, Christian Identity, Kids in Ministry International, Earth First!, and Vegan Straight Edge. But, as the book points out, the coercive use of music is not isolated to radical cultures, but in political propaganda, sporting events, and popular music as well. Ultimately, Radicalism and Music shows how music affects us through our emotions, and how it triggers violence and enables hateful ideology.

Hardcover is un-jacketed.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2015

Reviews

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only part that lost me was the willful misreading of Harry Potter in the postlude of the fifth chapter. I just felt like the author was trying to make some kind of edgy point that ultimately didn't make much sense. It was also completely out of place in a book about radicalism, especially given that it's a well-known allegory for WWII. I'm harping on this mostly because it was such a bizarre digression. Other than that, the case studies, arguments, and conclusions presented in this book were fascinating and informative.

[Mills College Library]

781.599 P6249 2015