Investigating the Invisible Sufferings: A Qualitative Investigation of Structural Violence in Karak District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Violence is a universal phenomenon and can be found in many societies across the globe. Based on nature and intensity, the factors may be cultural, psychological, and economic. Among all these, an important factor could be invisible sufferings that are rooted in the structure of a society. This study aims to explore the role of structural violence in boosting collective violence in District Karak, a region marked by a higher educational ratio but episodic communal unrest. The researchers conducted an in-depth analysis using a qualitative research design that employed an intrinsic case study approach. A diverse group of 25 participants selected through purposive and convenient sampling. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect primary data from five lawyers, five social activists, five heads of households, five Maliks, and five members of the dispute resolution council. A thematic analysis method was used to derive themes from the collected data, such as weak accusations, business deals, honor violations, rent killings, mistrust of the legal system, customary grievances, and attacks against police, which are found to be the basic elements of violence in the region. The study findings contribute to the broader discourse about the understanding of violence by exploring psychological, cultural, and structural factors that perpetuate collective aggression in District Karak.