How are Public Mass Shootings Defined, Framed and Responded to Across Europe?

Public mass shootings (PMS) frequently elicit public and political debates, yet conflicting perspectives and definitional issues, often based on arbitrary fatality thresholds, hinder understanding. This thesis addresses a gap in existing research, providing a comprehensive comparative analysis by exploring how PMS are defined, framed and responded to across multiple European countries.

This research adopted a mixed methods approach. Combining analysis of 18 PMS incidents across four case study countries: the UK, Germany, Belgium and Finland, using document analysis of academic articles, media sources, reports and parliamentary debates, with 11 qualitative semi-structured interviews. Participants included those in law enforcement, policy experts, researchers, interest groups and victims. Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) provided the theoretical foundation, viewed through a Critical Realist (CR) lens, to examine the factors influencing agenda setting and policy formation.

Thematic analysis of the research revealed how the three independent, yet interdependent problem, policy and politics streams align to produce circumstances favourable to policy change. Key themes emerged, including the ‘something must be done’ phenomenon, definitional issues, cultural and social factors and the long-term impact. The study reveals significant variations in responses influenced by political culture, stakeholder/interest group engagement, and public sentiment.

The research extends the MSF by introducing novel concepts including ‘cultural congeniality’ and the ‘something must be done’ phenomenon. It proposes a new victim typology and a more inclusive PMS definition, taking into consideration the perpetrator’s intent and the broader societal impact that extends beyond fatality thresholds.

These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers addressing PMS. This study underscores the importance of balancing immediate public demands with long-term evidence-based solutions. It emphasises the need for inclusive policymaking processes that consider diverse stakeholder perspectives, particularly those of victims. By understanding the complex interplay of problem framing, policy solutions, and political dynamics, decisionmakers can craft more refined and potentially more effective responses to these tragic events.

By integrating diverse perspectives, including the seldom heard voices of victims, this study offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to understanding PMS and related policy formation, contributing both theoretical knowledge and practical policy development.