The Dialectic of Government and Society During the Constitutional Monarchy of Amanullah Khan (1919-1927)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Associate Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Extended abstract
This study explores the complex and enduring relationship between the state and society during the constitutional monarchy of Amanullah Khan in Afghanistan from 1919 to 1927. This period represents a crucial juncture in Afghan history, characterized by significant modernization efforts and shifts in the power dynamics between the government and the populace. The central research question seeks to identify the nature of the ruling government during this era by analyzing the characteristics of the interaction between the state and society. This involves examining the tensions, reforms, and resistances that shaped the political landscape of Afghanistan during Amanullah Khan’s reign.
Amanullah Khan’s rule was marked by ambitious attempts to modernize Afghanistan, inspired by Western models. These reforms aimed to transform various aspects of Afghan life, including education, law, and social customs. However, these initiatives faced substantial opposition from traditional elites, religious leaders, and tribal groups, who perceived them as threats to their established authority, cultural values, and way of life. This divergence in vision led to increased friction between a state seeking to implement modern reforms and a society often resistant to such rapid change. Understanding this dynamic is crucial to assessing the nature of governance that emerged.
The research is grounded in the theoretical framework presented in *The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty* by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. This framework provides a valuable lens for analyzing the interplay between state power and societal forces. Acemoglu and Robinson emphasize the importance of a balance between a strong state and an engaged society for achieving liberty and prosperity. In the context of Amanullah Khan’s Afghanistan, this framework allows for a nuanced examination of how the relationship between the state’s modernization agenda and societal resistance shaped the political environment. The research seeks to determine whether the state evolved into a despotic entity that suppressed individual freedoms or if societal forces were able to exert sufficient influence to hold the state accountable. Specifically, the research asks: By focusing on the dialectical interaction of the state and society in Afghanistan from 1919 to 1927, what type of Leviathan emerged during the reign of Amanullah Khan, and what were its characteristics? This question seeks to categorize the nature of the government. The concept of the “Leviathan,” borrowed from Thomas Hobbes, is used here to describe the form and function of the state, particularly its exercise of power and authority. The study aims to determine whether the state under Amanullah Khan became an overbearing power or operated within constraints imposed by societal forces.
The methodology employed in this research is qualitative data analysis. A variety of sources, including government documents, historical accounts, and scholarly works, are examined to provide a comprehensive understanding of the period. This approach allows for a detailed reconstruction of events and an assessment of the various factors that influenced the relationship between the state and society. The research findings suggest that the government of Amanullah Khan should be described as an autocratic state, yet one with elements of constitutionalism and efforts toward social and political reform.
In conclusion, this research posits that the reign of Amanullah Khan saw the emergence of an autocratic state characterized by authoritarian tendencies but also incorporating elements of constitutionalism and reformist initiatives. The interplay between the state’s modernization efforts and societal resistance determined the nature of the government and its relationship with the Afghan population. This study contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics that shaped modern Afghanistan and offers insights into the challenges inherent in state-building and social transformation within a traditional society. The findings underscore the need for a balanced approach between state power and societal autonomy to foster sustainable development and political stability.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2022). Non-modernization: Power–culture trajectories and the dynamics of political institutions. Annual Review of Political Science.
Adeli, Z. (2015). “Post-Colonial Situation and Plurality of Afghanistan’s Constitutions,” Kabul: Katib University Publications.
Ahmed-Ghosh, H. (2003). A History of Women in Afghanistan: Lessons Learnt for the Future. Journal of International Women’s Studies,
Azizi, M., & Haruna, S. (2007). What, How and Why Happened in Afghanistan?: A Study of Political Economic History of the Early 20th Century. Journal of the Okayama University Economic Society.
Danish, S. (2015). Complete Text of the Constitutions of Afghanistan (Ten Constitutions from 1301 to 1382), Kabul Ibn Sina University Publications.
Farhang, M. M. S. (1992). Afghanistan in the Last Five Centuries. Dakhshesh Publications.
Farhang, M. M. S. (2012). Afghanistan in the Last Five Centuries.Tehran: Erfan Publications.
Fayyaz, A.A. (2015). Contemporary History of Afghanistan from Ahmad Shah Durrani to the Fall of the Communists. Ferdowsi University Publications.
Ghubar, M. G. M. (2014). Afghanistan in the Course of History. Saeed Publications..
Hashimy, S. Q. (2022). The Constitutional Failures in Afghanistan: A Narrative of Agonising Constitutional Death. The Indian Journal of Politics
Matera, R. (2022). Using Acemoglu and Robinson’s concept to assess Leviathans in CECCs in the long term. Comparative Economic Research. Central and Eastern Europe, Lodz University Press..
Monib, A. (2024). A historical look at the reforms of Amir Amanullah Khan. Department of History, Faculty of Social Science, Kabul Education University, Afghanistan.
Nouri, S. (2021). Explanation and Analysis of the Cultural and Social Status of Women in the Era of Amanullah Khan and Mohammad Zahir Shah. Women’s Voices Quarterly.
Rahmani, A. N., & Hosseini, A. (2012). After Isolation: Analyzing Afghanistan’s Foreign Policy Post-Taliban. Kabul Center for Strategic Studies Publications.
Raja, W. (1996). a political biography of king amanullah khan. centre of advanced study department of history aligarh muslim university aligarh (indu).
Ruhani, M., & Kohi, S. (2021). Afghanistan’s achievements in the era of Amanullah khan. Bamyan University. Afghanistan, Bamyan.
Sajadi, S. A. Q. (2012). Political Sociology of Afghanistan. Khatam al-Nabiyeen Higher Education Institute Publications.
Sarhadi, R., & Najafzadeh, M. (2023). Analysis of the Power Relationship between the State and Society during the Transition to Democracy: Case Study of the Constitutional Movement. Political Science Research Journal.
Shir, J. (2012). Nationalism in Afghanistan: Colonial knowledge, education, symbols, and the World Tour of Amanullah Khan, 1901-1929. James Madison University.
Stanikzai, A., Shinwari, F. G., & Hemat, T. (2022). Introduction to Ghazi Amanullah Khan’s Administrative and Economic Reforms. American Journal of Social Development and Entrepreneurship (AJSDE).
Taheri, M. H. (2024). Foundations of the Ideological Developments of Contemporary Political Afghanistan. Nagah-e Moaser Publishing.
Tanvir, M. H. (1999). History and Journalism of Afghanistan. Holland: Institute for Research and Reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Tawakkol, Mousavi, (2017). Enlightenment in Afghanistan: A Sociological Perspective. Sociologists Publications.
Hadian, H. (2009). Structural weakness of nation-state building in Afghanistan. Rahbord Scientific Quarterly.
Barech, F. M., & Barech, K. U. (2014). A study of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan’s domestic and foreign policies in Afghanistan: Historical overview. Bilingual/Bi-annual Pakistan Studies English/Urdu Research Journal.
Amin, A. (2010). The Role of the Ulema in Afghan Politics. Journal of Afghan Studies.
Hosseini, J. (2012). State-building in Afghanistan in the structural realist approach. Politics Quarterly, Journal of the Faculty of Law and Political Science.
Suhrke. (2013). State-building in Afghanistan: An engagement.
Rahimi. (2019). A critique of the system’s structure in Afghanistan.
Ebrahimi, Y. (2020). The difficulty of political development in Afghanistan: The confrontation between a centralized state and a decentralized society.
Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2012). Why nations fail: The origins of power, prosperity, and poverty. Crown Business.
Mashreghi, Y. (2010). Crisis of national identity in Afghanistan: Approaches and solutions. Saeed Publications.
Kakar, K., Kraemer, T., & Rawoufi, H. (2017). Evolution of the executive branch in Afghanistan: A look at the past and recommendations for the future. Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU).
Corna, L. (2004). Afghanistan. (F. Shadab, Trans.). Qoqnoos Publications.
POLITICAL QUARTERLY
Volume 55, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 923-895

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 13 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 01 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 05 April 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics