In this essay, I will examine the concept of enemy images in the Taliban’s propaganda after they seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The Taliban, a powerful extremist military group that calls itself the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” has greatly impacted Afghanistan's society and politics since it emerged in 1994, during the civil war in Afghanistan. The key to their influence in society lies in their leaders' speeches, books, and orders which do more than merely communicate. These leaders strategically create and spread enemy images through their messages. Understanding these enemy images, as presented in their speeches, books and orders helps us comprehend how this extremist Islamic group acts to maintain its power. The Taliban leaders, especially Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the group, have a significant impact on producing enemy images and mobilizing people to join them and follow their orders. The aim of this essay is to understand how this extremist group uses enemy images to make people obey and accept “othering.”
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Drawing on the literature and selected data, this essay will explore the following key questions: How does the Taliban create and utilize enemy images following their return to power in August 2021? Who are “us” and “them” in Taliban propaganda? What language do Taliban leaders and their media outlets employ to persuade their followers, and what are the consequences of these enemy images produced by the Taliban in Afghanistan?
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