see something against something
1. Lit. to view something against something else. I can't see the cars against the evening sky if their lights aren't on. The cars can't be seen against the evening sky.
2. Fig. to view or consider something within the context of something else. If you can see this issue against the background of a long series of problems, perhaps you will understand how concerned we are. You really need to see this matter against the background of what has happened before.