Afghanistan's Ongoing Cycle of Violence: Unpacking the Structural Drivers of Mass Shootings
Original framing: “Families gather to mourn victims of deadly shooting in Afghanistan” — Al Jazeera
The original framing omits the historical context of US-led interventions in Afghanistan, which have contributed to the country's instability and violence. It also neglects the experiences and perspectives of Afghan women, who are disproportionately affected by conflict and violence. Furthermore, the narrative fails to address the structural causes of poverty and lack of access to education and economic opportunities, which are key drivers of violence in Afghanistan.
Medium structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
This narrative was produced by Al Jazeera, a prominent international news outlet, for a global audience. The framing serves to highlight the human cost of conflict in Afghanistan, while obscuring the role of external actors and the structural drivers of violence. The narrative also reinforces the dominant Western perspective on conflict, neglecting the agency and experiences of Afghan civilians.
The conflict in Afghanistan has its roots in the Soviet invasion of 1979 and the subsequent US-led interventions in the 1980s and 2000s. These interventions have contributed to the country's instability and violence, creating a cycle of conflict that has been perpetuated by external actors. A deeper understanding of this historical context is essential to addressing the root causes of violence in Afghanistan.
The recent shooting in Herat, Afghanistan, is part of a larger pattern of violence that has been perpetuated by colonial and imperial powers throughout history.