The Mohammad Daud Khan Era (1973–1978): State Refoundation, The Quest For Modernizatıon, and Political Transformation in Afghanistan

Abstract

This artical examines the period initiated by the coup of 17 July 1973 in Afghanistan, focusing on the era of Mohammed Daoud Khan through the lenses of modern state-building, centralization policies, and developmental modernization. The analysis situates the period against the backdrop of institutional stagnation, a crisis of representation, and the erosion of governing capacity during the final years of King Zahir Shah’s rule, as well as the fragmented parliamentary structure and ideological polarization that emerged following the 1964 Constitution. Within this context, the internal and external dynamics of the 1973 coup, Daoud Khan’s position within the military and bureaucracy, and the declining legitimacy of the monarchy are examined. The study further explores the de facto marginalization of parliament under the republic, the centralization of provincial administration, the reorganization of the security bureaucracy, and the strengthening of planning institutions. Moreover, the developmental state model is discussed through policies related to industrialization, infrastructure, rural development, and education. Finally, Daoud Khan’s institutional and ideological legacy is assessed in relation to the PDPA era, the mujahideen governments, the first Taliban regime, and post-2001 state-building processes, arguing that the years 1973–1978 constituted a pivotal transitional phase in Afghanistan’s modern political development.