Crisis Communication and Media Narratives: A Study of Dynamic Crisis Management in the U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Yihan Ma

2025

Abstract

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 sparked a global crisis of public perception, as chaotic evacuation scenes from Hamid Karzai International Airport were widely disseminated through international media, leading to intense criticism of U.S. crisis management. This study examines the public relations strategies adopted by the U.S. government in response to the crisis, focusing on media narratives and their role in shaping international discourse. By analyzing traditional and social media coverage, this research explores how different media platforms influenced public opinion and framed the withdrawal as either a strategic necessity or a policy failure. The study further develops a dynamic crisis communication framework, emphasizing the interaction between traditional media’s structured narratives and social media’s rapid information dissemination. Findings suggest that while traditional media provided in-depth analysis, social media amplified emotional reactions and real-time criticism, complicating crisis control efforts. This research contributes to the broader understanding of crisis communication in international relations, offering insights into how governments can better navigate high-profile crises in the digital age.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Ma Y. (2025). Crisis Communication and Media Narratives: A Study of Dynamic Crisis Management in the U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD; ISBN 978-989-758-779-5, SciTePress, pages 467-472. DOI: 10.5220/0013999500004912

in Bibtex Style

@conference{iesd25,
author={Yihan Ma},
title={Crisis Communication and Media Narratives: A Study of Dynamic Crisis Management in the U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD},
year={2025},
pages={467-472},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013999500004912},
isbn={978-989-758-779-5},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD
TI - Crisis Communication and Media Narratives: A Study of Dynamic Crisis Management in the U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan
SN - 978-989-758-779-5
AU - Ma Y.
PY - 2025
SP - 467
EP - 472
DO - 10.5220/0013999500004912
PB - SciTePress