The Barenboim Case: How to Link Music and Diplomacy Studies
Abstract
The article analyzes the role of Maestro Daniel Barenboim in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. More precisely, it aims at embedding the actions of a musician in diplomatic studies. With his friend Edward Said, Barenboim created “The East–West Divan Orchestra,” a very well-known structure that was performed in several countries and even in the United Nations. This article distances itself from the diplomacy of celebrity (Cooper 2007) as a relevant category for understanding Barenboim’s action. It also clarifies the ambiguous nature of a musician “who is not a politician” in the international arena.