Ideological Underpinnings and Their Effects on Educational Policies in Afghanistan: A Century-Long Perspective

Document Type : پژوهشی

Authors

• Rohollah Eslami ¹
• Basir Ahmad Hasin ²

¹ Assistant Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

² Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jami University, Herat, Afghanistan

10.22067/fedu.2025.87540.1340

Abstract

This study examines how ideological frameworks have shaped Afghanistan’s educational policies over the past century. The influence of ruling ideologies on education is common, but in Afghanistan, this process has undergone significant transformations. The primary research question explores the ideological mechanisms and their effects on educational policies. We hypothesize that dominant ideologies played a decisive role in shaping these policies. Findings indicate that four distinct ideological mechanisms have influenced educational policies: secular nationalism under Amanullah Khan, communist ideologies during Soviet rule, religious orthodoxy under the Taliban, and liberal democracy post-2001. Each era reflects broader struggles over national identity and state legitimacy, with education serving as a battleground for competing ideologies.

Keywords

• Ideology
• Educational System
• Afghanistan
• Curricula

Main Subjects

• Educational Philosophy

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