Metadata
Title
Stephen R. Millar
Category
undergraduate
UUID
ea8c2eaf9de2440a9163f75ba4e8c786
Source URL
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/
Parent URL
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/anthropology-sociology-ba/
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T19:00:15+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Stephen R. Millar

**Source**: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/
**Parent**: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/anthropology-sociology-ba/

[View Scopus Profile](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191197680)

# Stephen R. Millar

Dr

- Lecturer, [School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/school-of-history-anthropology-philosophy-and-politics/)
- [Anthropology and Ethnomusicology](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/anthropology-and-ethnomusicology/)

- Email[s.millar@qub.ac.uk](#)

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

I welcome PhD applications in the areas of: \
- Music and Conflict \
- Music, Health, and Wellbeing\
- Popular Music and the Politics of Identity \
- Social Movements \
- Sport, Politics, and Popular Culture

2012Research output 2012: 2Research output 2013: 3Research output 2014: 2Research output 2015: 7Research output 2016: 4Research output 2017: 5Research output 2018: 2Research output 2019: 2Research output 2020: 6Research output 2021: 7Research output 2022: 2Research output 2023: 1Research output 2024: 2Research output 2025: 1Research output 2026: 12026

Research activity per year

## Personal profile

### Research Focus

Stephen R. Millar is Lecturer in Anthropology and Ethnomusicology at Queen's University Belfast. His work focuses on music, power, and conflict, with an emphasis on Britain and Ireland. He is particularly interested in the social impact of music-making and his work uses music as a platform to examine some of the most pressing concerns of our times, including militant nationalism, social inclusion, and the legacy of colonialism.

Stephen is the author of *[Sounding Dissent: Rebel Songs, Resistance, and Irish Republicanism](https://www.press.umich.edu/11393212/sounding_dissent)*, and [*Performing Paramilitarism: Loyalist Songs, Conflict, and Culture War in Northern Ireland.*](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/performing-paramilitarism-9780197686430?lang=en&cc=us) He is co-founder of the [Songs of the Northern Ireland (SoNIC)](https://sonicarchive.net) archive. Stephen is co-editor of two volumes of essays, *[Football and Popular Culture](https://www.routledge.com/Football-and-Popular-Culture-Singing-Out-from-the-Stands/Millar-Power-Widdop-Parnell-Carr/p/book/9781032006482)* and *[Football, Politics, and Identity](https://www.routledge.com/Football-Politics-and-Identity/Carr-Parnell-Widdop-Power-Millar/p/book/9781032012322)*, and co-edited a special issue of *[Managing Sport and Leisure](https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rmle21/25/1-2)* on Football and Politics guest editor in 2020. He is currently working on a new book project on police music ensembles in Northern Ireland.

### Research Statement

Stephen has written on topics ranging from football chants and state censorship to the role of music in engaging hard-to-reach young people, and from music as (post)colonial struggle to community experiences of sectarianism. His work has been published in a broad range of academic journals, including the *British Journal of Music Education, Ethnomusicology Forum, Health & Social Care in the Community, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Managing Sport and Leisure, Music & Politics, Popular Music, Popular Music and Society, Race & Class,*and*Scottish Affairs*.

*[Sounding Dissent: Rebel Songs, Resistance, and Irish Republicanism](https://www.press.umich.edu/11393212/sounding_dissent)*(University of Michigan Press, 2020) explores how Irish republicans have used rebel songs to resist against the hegemonic power of the British state. Drawing on three years of sustained fieldwork within the rebel music scene, the book challenges the parameters of the postcolonial and reconceptualises political resistance through sound, using rebel songs to understand the history of political violence in Ireland. *Sounding Dissent* has received excellent reviews across a range of journals including *Ethnomusicology Forum*, *Irish Political Studies*, the *Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute*, *Oral History*, and *Popular Music*. It was awarded a High Commendation in the British Association for Irish Studies Book Prize (2021).

*[Performing Paramilitarism: Loyalist Songs, Conflict, and Culture War in Northern Ireland](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/performing-paramilitarism-9780197686430?lang=en&cc=us)*(Oxford University Press, 2026) examines the interconnection between loyalist songs and political violence in Northern Ireland from the Troubles to the present. *Performing Paramilitarism* unravels the role songs play in inciting violence during war and legitimising structural violence during peace, examining their embeddedness in paramilitarism and inter-communal conflict. It explores why musicians and audiences continue to consume loyalist songs, and how, in the wake of Brexit, such songs form part of a cultural nostalgia for multiple and intersecting imagined pasts, which resonate with the rise of populism in other parts of the world. The book is the first of its kind and is supplemented by an [online archive](https://sonicarchive.net) of political music-making. This demonstrates how political song of diverging persuasions commented on and connected with the social and political landscape in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and how political song continues to shape present-day issues and identities.

Drawing on original research in countries across four continents, *[Football and Popular Culture](https://www.routledge.com/Football-and-Popular-Culture-Singing-Out-from-the-Stands/Millar-Power-Widdop-Parnell-Carr/p/book/9781032006482)* and *[Football, Politics, and Identity](https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003002628/football-politics-identity-james-carr-daniel-parnell-paul-widdop-martin-power-stephen-millar)* present diverse case studies ranging from sonic violence among Brazilian *torcidas organizadas* to fan-led commemoration of the Munich Air Disaster, which together help us to better understand the intersection of sport, society, and popular culture. The books explore some of the most important themes in the study of sport, including activism, migration, and national identity, and show how football continues to be tied to political events, symbols and movements. The books plot a new path in Football Studies, showing how the lives and bodies of clubs, players and fans around the world are enmeshed with politics.

Stephen is currently working on a new book project that focuses on police music making in Northern Ireland. Through archival research and interviews with police musicians, as well as attending concerts and performances, the project seeks to understand the various ways music has been instrumentalised by the police, from professional ensembles as soft power during the early years of the state to music's role in contemporary community relations.

### Achievements

Stephen's research has been funded by the AHRC, ERC, IRC, Leverhulme Trust, and the Scottish Government. He has contributed to news broadcasts, discussion programmes, and documentary series appearing on various media platforms, including the BBC, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Scotland, Radio Télévision Suisse, RTÉ One, RTÉ Radio 1, and VICE.

Before joining the faculty at Queen's, Stephen was Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam and a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in Ethnomusicology at Cardiff University. He was Lead Researcher on the EU-funded [COOL Music](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-music-education/article/cool-music-a-bottomup-music-intervention-for-hardtoreach-young-people-in-scotland/063F0220A3FC4D0EA73ACB87331DF47A) project and a Researcher on the [Community Experiences of Sectarianism](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2015/02/community-experiences-sectarianism/documents/community-experiences-sectarianism/community-experiences-sectarianism/govscot%3Adocument/00470344.pdf) project for the Scottish Government. He was was awarded his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Queen’s University Belfast, an M.Phil. in Music from the University of Cambridge, a B.Mus. from the University of Glasgow, and a B.A. in Politics from the University of Strathclyde.

### Teaching

**Autumn**

ANT1001: Being Human: Culture and Society

ESA3013: Music, Power and Conflict

IRS7011: Belfast: Place, Identity and Memory in a Contested City

LIB2001: Uses of the Past

**Spring**

ANT1006: Understanding Northern Ireland: History, Politics and Anthropology

ANT7013: The Anthropology of Music

**PhD Supervision**

**Katharina Bock:**Visual Voices: A User Interface – How Online Resources Aid Educational and Community Development (Second Supervisor) HLF-funded.

**Catriona Gribben:**Exploring the Aural Transmission of Folk Music in Northwest Donegal in Comparison with Pan-Celtic Regions (Second Supervisor) DFE-funded.

**Eoin Kearns:** Intercultural Understanding and Translocal Interactions: Irish Traditional Music Communities and the Irish State in China (First Supervisor) AHRC-funded.

**Holly Mulhern:** Taking Medicines at Home: Exploring medication use as a socially embedded phenomenon (Tertiary Supervisor) Funded by the Dunhil Medical Trust.

**Dorothea Papadaki:**Greek Folk and Popular Music and the Greek Female Diaspora in England (Second Supervisor) DFE-funded.

## Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Stephen R. Millar is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/similar/)
  Similar Profiles

- UK
  Social Sciences
- Vocal Music
  Arts and Humanities
- Song
  Social Sciences
- Music
  Social Sciences
- Irish Gaelic
  Social Sciences
- rebel
  Arts and Humanities
- Republican
  Arts and Humanities
- Politics
  Social Sciences

[View full fingerprint](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/fingerprints/)

## Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or Select a country/territory from the list\

# Dive into details

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[Explore network further](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/network/)

## Research output

- [12](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoconference%2Fpaper)
  Paper
- [6](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Farticle)
  Article
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fbook)
  Book
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fchapter)
  Chapter
- 3
  More

  - [**2** Other contribution to conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoconference%2Fother)
  - [**1** Commissioned report](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fcommissioned)
  - [**1** Book/Film/Article review](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fbook)
  - [**1** Other contribution](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fothercontribution%2Fother)

- ### [Performing paramilitarism. Loyalist songs, conflict and culture war](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/performing-paramilitarism-loyalist-songs-conflict-and-culture-war/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/), 22 Jun 2026, (Accepted) [Oxford University Press](#). 232 p.

  Research output: Book/Report › Book

  - Vocal Music
  - loyalist
  - Culture wars
  - Paramilitarism
  - Paramilitaries
- ### [‘Songs of the Northern Ireland Conflict (SoNIC) Archive’: Loyalist songs, the Troubles, and the politics of cultural reproduction](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/songs-of-the-northern-ireland-conflict-sonic-archive-loyalist-son/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/), 11 Sept 2025.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- ### [Giving a Voice to Ulster's Volunteers](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/giving-a-voice-to-ulsters-volunteers/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/), Mar 2024.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
- ### [‘We Are Not Sectarian’: Performing (Non-)Belonging in Northern Ireland's Loyalist Music Scene](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/we-are-not-sectarian-performing-non-belonging-in-northern-ireland/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/), 2024.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
- ### [Men behind the wire: loyalist prisoners and songs of resistance](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/men-behind-the-wire-loyalist-prisoners-and-songs-of-resistance/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/), 2023.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

[View all 47 research outputs](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/publications/)

## Prizes

- ### [AHRC Doctoral Studentship](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/ahrc-doctoral-studentship-2/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Recipient), 2013

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
- ### [AHRC Research Preparation Masters Studentship](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/ahrc-research-preparation-masters-studentship-2/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Recipient), 2012

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
- ### [Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/leverhulme-early-career-fellowship-4/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Recipient), 2018

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
- ### [Leverhulme Study Abroad Studentship](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/leverhulme-study-abroad-studentship/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Recipient), 2016

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively

## Activities

- [8](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_talk)
  Invited talk
- [6](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Fpublicationpeerreview)
  Publication peer-review
- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fcouncil)
  Membership of external research organisation
- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fotheractivity%2Fpublicengagement_schoolsengagement)
  Hosting a school group or open day
- 7
  More

  - [**4** Participation in workshop, seminar, course](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fworkshopseminarcourseparticipation)
  - [**3** Hosting of external, non-academic visitor](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fhostvisitor%2Fhosting_of_external_non_academic_visitor)
  - [**2** Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_or_keynote_talk_at_national_or_international_conference)
  - [**1** Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fconsultancy%2Fwork_on_advisory_panel_to_industry_or_government_or_non_government_organisation_)
  - [**1** Editorial activity](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Feditorial)
  - [**1** Hosting an academic visitor](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fhostvisitor%2Fhostvisitor)
  - [**1** Membership of peer review panel or committee](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fcommittee)

- ### [Ethnomusicology Ireland (Journal)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/ethnomusicology-ireland-journal-3/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Peer reviewer)

  12 Feb 2026

  Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
- ### [Music, Conflict, and Culture War in Northern Ireland](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/music-conflict-and-culture-war-in-northern-ireland/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Advisor)

  05 Feb 2026

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
- ### [Irish Political Studies (Journal)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/irish-political-studies-journal-25/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Peer reviewer)

  03 Feb 2026

  Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
- ### [Mapping Protest Activity in Scotland](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/mapping-protest-activity-in-scotland/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Advisor)

  25 Nov 2025

  Activity: Consultancy types › Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation
- ### [Jordan Butler](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/jordan-butler/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/) (Host)

  21 Nov 2025

  Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting of external, non-academic visitor

[View all 49 activities](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/activities/)

## Press/Media

- ### [Music and Protest in Ireland](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/music-and-protest-in-ireland/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/)

  13/10/2024

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment
- ### [The role of music in politics](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/the-role-of-music-in-politics/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/)

  23/08/2024

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment
- ### [Music, Conflict and Culture](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/music-conflict-and-culture/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/)

  23/09/2023

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Research
- ### [Creedon's Musical Atlas of Ireland (RTÉ ONE)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/creedons-musical-atlas-of-ireland-rt%C3%A9-one/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/)

  19/09/2023

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment
- ### [Wolfetones](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/wolfetones/)

  [Millar, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/)

  06/09/2023

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment

[View all 6 press/media](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-r-millar/clippings/)