Music as an instrument for constructing and articulating national identity

The subject of this paper is an analysis of the role of music in the construction, articulation, and reproduction of national identity. The research aims to examine how different musical forms and practices contribute to strengthening national belonging and preserving cultural continuity in the Republic of Serbia. The study is based on the premise that national identity is not exclusively a product of political institutions but is also shaped through cultural symbols, tradition, collective memory, and various forms of cultural representation, among which music occupies a prominent place. The theoretical section examines relevant theoretical approaches that emphasize the importance of music in fostering collective belonging, sustaining national consciousness, and preserving cultural continuity. The empirical section is based on a quantitative field survey conducted in 2026 on a representative sample of 1,000 adult citizens of the Republic of Serbia. The research examined respondents' attitudes toward the role of music in the formation of national identity, their emotional attachment to the national anthem, the musical genres that most strongly evoke a sense of national belonging, the social contexts in which this feeling is most intensely expressed, and the functions that music performs in the construction and preservation of national identity. The findings indicate that respondents attribute the greatest importance to traditional folk music, the national anthem, and patriotic songs, while the sense of national belonging is most frequently associated with family gatherings, listening to the national anthem, and sporting events. The majority of respondents identify the preservation of tradition as the most significant function of music, confirming that music represents an important cultural resource in contemporary Serbian society in the processes of constructing, preserving, and reproducing national identity.